Portsmouth are unexpectedly facing an 11th hour battle for Southern Premier Division 1 survival after being plunged into the two-down relegation zone in the penultimate round of matches.
They now face a ‘winner-takes-all’ last-day showdown with Sarisbury Athletic at St Helen’s tomorrow, 1230pm.
The city club dropped into the drop zone for the first time after losing to New Milton by 55 runs at Fernhill
At the same time Sarisbury Athletic and Andover were both winning to jump above Portsmouth - the latter by just 0.06 of a point on average - and leave the Southsea club staring at a shock relegation to the third tier next season.
Sarisbury defeated Sparsholt, but the big surprise – on paper - was Andover dishing out a 184-run hammering to suspension hit Basingstoke & North Hants, who had side-lined seven of their regular team after now well chronicled behavioural issues at Rowledge the previous week.
With Andover hosting already relegated St Cross Symondians seconds tomorrow, whoever wins on Southsea seafront - Portsmouth or Sarisbury - can expect to avoid the drop, but condemn the losers to Division 2 cricket in 2022. A tie would see Portsmouth relegated if Andover win.
Portsmouth would have started this season with high hopes of challenging for promotion, having finished third in 2019 - winning 12 of their 18 games - and fourth 12 months earlier.
But now they are looking over their shoulders at relegation after a fifth successive defeat against New Milton. The players may need to review the way they prepare for matches – starting tonight !
Portsmouth, who last tasted SPL victory on July 3 against Rowledge, had received a great start after winning the toss and inserting their hosts.
Joe Kooner-Evans (2-25) and Reuben McArdle both took two wickets as Milton crashed to 23-4. The hosts were rescued by Toby Edwards lashing seven fours and four sixes in a 59-ball 77, and skipper George Watts (60), with an 88-ball 60 as Milton posted 218-8.
McArdle was Portsmouth’s leading wicket-taker, but his three victims cost 66 runs off only seven overs - including a maiden. He conceded 23 runs off one over - Edwards hitting him for a four and three successive sixes - while he also went for 16 off his last six balls.
When Portsmouth replied, Watts bagged an early hat-trick on his way to a 4-20 haul. He dismissed Alex Hammond, and brothers Tom and Dan Wallis as the visitors slumped to 14-3.
Skipper James Christian (32) and opener Richard Warner (25) hung around for a while, but it was Kooner-Evans who top scored, smacking seven fours in a 43-ball 51, adding 42 for the last wicket with Jono Brook (5*) as Portsmouth were dismissed for 163.
They now face a ‘winner-takes-all’ last-day showdown with Sarisbury Athletic at St Helen’s tomorrow, 1230pm.
The city club dropped into the drop zone for the first time after losing to New Milton by 55 runs at Fernhill
At the same time Sarisbury Athletic and Andover were both winning to jump above Portsmouth - the latter by just 0.06 of a point on average - and leave the Southsea club staring at a shock relegation to the third tier next season.
Sarisbury defeated Sparsholt, but the big surprise – on paper - was Andover dishing out a 184-run hammering to suspension hit Basingstoke & North Hants, who had side-lined seven of their regular team after now well chronicled behavioural issues at Rowledge the previous week.
With Andover hosting already relegated St Cross Symondians seconds tomorrow, whoever wins on Southsea seafront - Portsmouth or Sarisbury - can expect to avoid the drop, but condemn the losers to Division 2 cricket in 2022. A tie would see Portsmouth relegated if Andover win.
Portsmouth would have started this season with high hopes of challenging for promotion, having finished third in 2019 - winning 12 of their 18 games - and fourth 12 months earlier.
But now they are looking over their shoulders at relegation after a fifth successive defeat against New Milton. The players may need to review the way they prepare for matches – starting tonight !
Portsmouth, who last tasted SPL victory on July 3 against Rowledge, had received a great start after winning the toss and inserting their hosts.
Joe Kooner-Evans (2-25) and Reuben McArdle both took two wickets as Milton crashed to 23-4. The hosts were rescued by Toby Edwards lashing seven fours and four sixes in a 59-ball 77, and skipper George Watts (60), with an 88-ball 60 as Milton posted 218-8.
McArdle was Portsmouth’s leading wicket-taker, but his three victims cost 66 runs off only seven overs - including a maiden. He conceded 23 runs off one over - Edwards hitting him for a four and three successive sixes - while he also went for 16 off his last six balls.
When Portsmouth replied, Watts bagged an early hat-trick on his way to a 4-20 haul. He dismissed Alex Hammond, and brothers Tom and Dan Wallis as the visitors slumped to 14-3.
Skipper James Christian (32) and opener Richard Warner (25) hung around for a while, but it was Kooner-Evans who top scored, smacking seven fours in a 43-ball 51, adding 42 for the last wicket with Jono Brook (5*) as Portsmouth were dismissed for 163.
Rob Franklin, the former title winning South Wilts spin all-rounder, took four cheap wickets as Sarisbury Athletic defeated Sparsholt by 23 runs at the Norman Edwards Ground.
Asked to chase 213 for victory, Jeremy Frith (39) and Dan Sumner (29) opened with 68 for the first home wicket.
Sparsholt then lost three wickets for no runs - two of them to Tom Kitcher (3-37) - and the introduction of Franklin, pictured, the fifth and final Sarisbury bowler used, accounted for the middle order.
The former St Fagan’s (South Wales Premier League) all-rounder finished with 4-20 as Sparsholt were bowled out for 189 to give Athletic their third successive SPL victory.
Andover drafted in Hampshire’s Lewis McManus against Basingstoke, with the wicket-keeper batting first wicket down so as to spend some much needed time at the crease.
He had a wait, though, with openers Glyn Treagus and Collingbourne-raised teenager Sam Ashman both hitting 73 in a stand of 121. When McManus did get in, he made just five before being bemused and bowled by 15-year old spin prospect Shantanu Shahane (4-33), who took another four wickets in a T20 semi-final the following afternoon.
Babu Veettil, though, smashed 46 off just 18 balls - six fours and three sixes - as Andover posted 256-6 after being inserted at May’s Bounty.
Stoke were routed for 72 (Matt Deadman 21), with Matt Hooper (4-15) and Mike Adams (3-20) the main wicket-takers.
Andover’s lead over Portsmouth could hardly be narrower - their points average is 10.92 and Portsmouth’s is 10.86.
Asked to chase 213 for victory, Jeremy Frith (39) and Dan Sumner (29) opened with 68 for the first home wicket.
Sparsholt then lost three wickets for no runs - two of them to Tom Kitcher (3-37) - and the introduction of Franklin, pictured, the fifth and final Sarisbury bowler used, accounted for the middle order.
The former St Fagan’s (South Wales Premier League) all-rounder finished with 4-20 as Sparsholt were bowled out for 189 to give Athletic their third successive SPL victory.
Andover drafted in Hampshire’s Lewis McManus against Basingstoke, with the wicket-keeper batting first wicket down so as to spend some much needed time at the crease.
He had a wait, though, with openers Glyn Treagus and Collingbourne-raised teenager Sam Ashman both hitting 73 in a stand of 121. When McManus did get in, he made just five before being bemused and bowled by 15-year old spin prospect Shantanu Shahane (4-33), who took another four wickets in a T20 semi-final the following afternoon.
Babu Veettil, though, smashed 46 off just 18 balls - six fours and three sixes - as Andover posted 256-6 after being inserted at May’s Bounty.
Stoke were routed for 72 (Matt Deadman 21), with Matt Hooper (4-15) and Mike Adams (3-20) the main wicket-takers.
Andover’s lead over Portsmouth could hardly be narrower - their points average is 10.92 and Portsmouth’s is 10.86.
St Cross Symondians seconds, who have used a staggering 35 players this season, are already relegated but put up a decent performance against visiting Rowledge at the Green Jackets.
Defending 175-8 (Dylan Clarke 48), St Cross were initially put to the sword by Sam Plater (33) and with Ricky Yates (38) at the helm, Rowledge later progressed to 81-2.
A four-wicket spell by Dave Orchard (4-28) put St Cross right back in the contest but from 140-7, Rowledge went on to win by two wickets, with 16-year old Ollie Ryman (22) and Ollie Baker (17 not out) playing key roles.
Defending 175-8 (Dylan Clarke 48), St Cross were initially put to the sword by Sam Plater (33) and with Ricky Yates (38) at the helm, Rowledge later progressed to 81-2.
A four-wicket spell by Dave Orchard (4-28) put St Cross right back in the contest but from 140-7, Rowledge went on to win by two wickets, with 16-year old Ollie Ryman (22) and Ollie Baker (17 not out) playing key roles.