Much fancied Sparsholt were sent spinning to a 63-run defeat by local Southern Premier League Division 2 rivals Tichborne Park, who took charge of proceedings once Australian Justin Reid began to run amok.
The Queenslander smashed Sparsholt’s attack all around the sun drenched Norman Edwards Ground, cracking two sixes and 14 fours in a top drawer 85.
His knock pointed Tichborne to a formidable 248-8, one Sparsholt were unable to match.
Reid lost George Ayling early on, but added 50 or more with Jack Skinner (21) before Tom Allam (49) arrived at the crease.
The evergreen Jeremy Frith (0-19 off ten overs), now back in the Sparsholt fold after a decade-long stint in the Channel Islands, and teenage spinner Nick Doubell (3-48) regained some control – the Kings’ schoolboy eventually having Reid caught in the deep.
But a half-century by Martin Cheyney (55) eased Tichborne to 248-8, a satisfactory return after being put into bat.
Sparsholt began positively with Stuart Tognarelli (34) and Richard Kenway (15) taking the reply past 50 in the eighth over.
Just as Sparsholt’s bowlers struggled to control the new ball, so did Justin Reid, who conceded 27 runs off his first two overs !
Spinner Ed Berry (3-35) was introduced to the attack and removed both openers in quick succession, but former Sarisbury Athletic captain Dave Banks (46) and Peter Symonds College teen Tom Foster (37) were scoring just as rapidly, adding 78 and taking the score past 140 after 22 overs.
Sparsholt looked well on course for victory, but Park’s skipper Will Allam went back to his opening bowlers, at opposite ends, which brought immediate success.
Reid (2-58) dismissed Banks (four runs short of what would have been his 50th Southern League half-century) and Tom Allam (2-32) then dismissed Foster and Jeremy Frith in consecutive overs.
Despite having what appeared a strong batting line up, Sparsholt lost their last eight wickets for just 37 runs and were dismissed for 185.
Tommy Pegler was the toast of Calmore Sports after his unbeaten 31 got his team across the line in a nerve racking finish with Fawley at Loperwood Park.
Chasing Fawley’s 135 all out, Calmore sank to 102-8 and were in grave danger of defeat – until Pegler was joined by Paul Proudley, their unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 36 swinging the match.
Fawley, 26-3 early on, recovered to post 135 through Andy Parratt (29) and Kieron Earl (30 not out), with Dean Godden (18) chipping in vital runs at the end.
Mark Lavelle took 2-8 off his ten overs, but then cut an anxious figure as Fawley’s bowlers made constant inroads.
But Pegler’s experience in tight corners won the day ...
Trojans skipper Ed Boyd was trapped leg before just two runs short of a richly deserved century – but his 98 paved the way to a hefty 115-run victory over Paultons at Stoneham Lane.
Syed Mahmood (51) and James Truscott (31) took Trojans on to 245-5 – a target beyond Paultons by some distance.
Will Bond celebrated his promotion to Hambledon captain with a key 85 which set up the 36-run win over Bashley (Rydal) II at Ridge Meadow.
Dons made 210-7 (Spencer le Clerq 41), but Bashley – for whom five batsmen made 20 or more – lacked a major contributor as they fell to 174 all out.
The Queenslander smashed Sparsholt’s attack all around the sun drenched Norman Edwards Ground, cracking two sixes and 14 fours in a top drawer 85.
His knock pointed Tichborne to a formidable 248-8, one Sparsholt were unable to match.
Reid lost George Ayling early on, but added 50 or more with Jack Skinner (21) before Tom Allam (49) arrived at the crease.
The evergreen Jeremy Frith (0-19 off ten overs), now back in the Sparsholt fold after a decade-long stint in the Channel Islands, and teenage spinner Nick Doubell (3-48) regained some control – the Kings’ schoolboy eventually having Reid caught in the deep.
But a half-century by Martin Cheyney (55) eased Tichborne to 248-8, a satisfactory return after being put into bat.
Sparsholt began positively with Stuart Tognarelli (34) and Richard Kenway (15) taking the reply past 50 in the eighth over.
Just as Sparsholt’s bowlers struggled to control the new ball, so did Justin Reid, who conceded 27 runs off his first two overs !
Spinner Ed Berry (3-35) was introduced to the attack and removed both openers in quick succession, but former Sarisbury Athletic captain Dave Banks (46) and Peter Symonds College teen Tom Foster (37) were scoring just as rapidly, adding 78 and taking the score past 140 after 22 overs.
Sparsholt looked well on course for victory, but Park’s skipper Will Allam went back to his opening bowlers, at opposite ends, which brought immediate success.
Reid (2-58) dismissed Banks (four runs short of what would have been his 50th Southern League half-century) and Tom Allam (2-32) then dismissed Foster and Jeremy Frith in consecutive overs.
Despite having what appeared a strong batting line up, Sparsholt lost their last eight wickets for just 37 runs and were dismissed for 185.
Tommy Pegler was the toast of Calmore Sports after his unbeaten 31 got his team across the line in a nerve racking finish with Fawley at Loperwood Park.
Chasing Fawley’s 135 all out, Calmore sank to 102-8 and were in grave danger of defeat – until Pegler was joined by Paul Proudley, their unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 36 swinging the match.
Fawley, 26-3 early on, recovered to post 135 through Andy Parratt (29) and Kieron Earl (30 not out), with Dean Godden (18) chipping in vital runs at the end.
Mark Lavelle took 2-8 off his ten overs, but then cut an anxious figure as Fawley’s bowlers made constant inroads.
But Pegler’s experience in tight corners won the day ...
Trojans skipper Ed Boyd was trapped leg before just two runs short of a richly deserved century – but his 98 paved the way to a hefty 115-run victory over Paultons at Stoneham Lane.
Syed Mahmood (51) and James Truscott (31) took Trojans on to 245-5 – a target beyond Paultons by some distance.
Will Bond celebrated his promotion to Hambledon captain with a key 85 which set up the 36-run win over Bashley (Rydal) II at Ridge Meadow.
Dons made 210-7 (Spencer le Clerq 41), but Bashley – for whom five batsmen made 20 or more – lacked a major contributor as they fell to 174 all out.