Skipper Ricky Rawlins hit a fine 70 and Rob Franklin a decisive 58 not out to steer Sarisbury Athletic to a four-wicket win over Hambledon and a testing visit to Calmore Sports in the county group semi-finals of the Voneus Village Cup on Sunday week.
Sarisbury got home with eight balls of a fascinating tie to spare, Hambledon having undone their efforts with their bat – their 216-8 should have been a competitive one – with some indifferent bowling.
Rawlins and Franklin have both been Southern Premier Division title winners in the past and the pair cashed in as the Dons bowlers were punished for repeatedly dropping short of a length.
Hambledon were reasonably satisfied with their batting, Henry Glanfield (41), Chris Pratt (37) and Indy Chakrabati (36) building on the sound start by Spencer le Clerq (22) and George Marshall (29).
With Sam Floyd switching his leisure pursuits to golf, Sarisbury now rely heavily on Rawlins and Josh Hill, who eased the hosts into the driving seat at 87-2.
When the miserly one-time Hampshire left-arm spinner Ian Turner (1-17 off eight) bowled Hill (40) at 87-1 and Sarisbury lost two more wickets to get to 110-4, Hambledon were back in the game.
Rawlins, with a patient 72, and Franklin drove Sarisbury on to 191-4 before a double Dons breakthrough gave Hambledon renewed hope.
But Franklin, pictured batting in his South Wilts days, continued to thrive, hitting three sixes and five fours in a match winning 58 not out off 39 balls.
Franklin and Simon Orr struck six boundaries in quick succession to seal Hambledon’s fate.
Sarisbury got home with eight balls of a fascinating tie to spare, Hambledon having undone their efforts with their bat – their 216-8 should have been a competitive one – with some indifferent bowling.
Rawlins and Franklin have both been Southern Premier Division title winners in the past and the pair cashed in as the Dons bowlers were punished for repeatedly dropping short of a length.
Hambledon were reasonably satisfied with their batting, Henry Glanfield (41), Chris Pratt (37) and Indy Chakrabati (36) building on the sound start by Spencer le Clerq (22) and George Marshall (29).
With Sam Floyd switching his leisure pursuits to golf, Sarisbury now rely heavily on Rawlins and Josh Hill, who eased the hosts into the driving seat at 87-2.
When the miserly one-time Hampshire left-arm spinner Ian Turner (1-17 off eight) bowled Hill (40) at 87-1 and Sarisbury lost two more wickets to get to 110-4, Hambledon were back in the game.
Rawlins, with a patient 72, and Franklin drove Sarisbury on to 191-4 before a double Dons breakthrough gave Hambledon renewed hope.
But Franklin, pictured batting in his South Wilts days, continued to thrive, hitting three sixes and five fours in a match winning 58 not out off 39 balls.
Franklin and Simon Orr struck six boundaries in quick succession to seal Hambledon’s fate.