Sarisbury Athletic’s bid to regain the hard earned place in the ECB Southern Premier Division they surrendered last season is gaining momentum.
They stole a march on their promotion chasing rivals by winning by 39 runs at Liphook & Ripsley – a result which leapfrogged them above Portsmouth and to the top of the Division 1 table.
Season-long leaders Portsmouth, whom Sarisbury thrashed by 159 runs a week earlier, sat in the torrential mid-summer rain on Southsea seafront as their potential ‘home banker’ with bottom-of-the-table OTs & Romsey was washed out.
Basil Akram (30) flew out of the traps, with six fours off the 14 balls he faced, but at 34 Sarisbury lost not only the ex-Hampshire second teamer but also fellow opener Ryan Covey (2), who failed against his former team-mates.
But Sarisbury’s eventual 247 began to take shape around Ricky Rawlins (89), who shared a century partnership with Harry Hovey (37) and then skipper Matt Journeaux (23).
“All credit to the pair who had to dig it out at times,' said Journeaux.
“Harry (Hovey) likes to hit boundaries, but sensibly reined himself in a little.”
“At one stage we looked like getting around 280 but their spinners came on and were difficult to get away.
“We still felt anything over 200 on that wicket was a good score.”
Rawlins hit a six and ten fours in his 89, but his departure at 205 triggered a collapse, with the last seven wickets falling for 42 runs, principally against Harry Munt (2-43) and Rob Nicklin (3-38).
Teenage left-armer Jack Campbell, who played for the Academy last week, took 3-54, including the prize scalp of Akram.
Rain began falling during the tea interval and some 90 minutes play was lost, leaving Liphook a revised target of 219 off 39 overs.
That target grew to significant proportions when Shayne Freemantle (3-27) ripped into Liphook’s top order, leaving the East Hampshire side 36-4.
But Liphook, minus the influential Suman Ganguly, refused to lie down and Giles Cover (52) and Munt added 76.
Munt (57) and Grant Rouse (33) hit six maximums but Covey (3-47), who had been on the receiving end, got both half-centurions and Rouse as Liphook tumbled from a threatening 162-5 to 181 all out, with Akram removing the tail.
They stole a march on their promotion chasing rivals by winning by 39 runs at Liphook & Ripsley – a result which leapfrogged them above Portsmouth and to the top of the Division 1 table.
Season-long leaders Portsmouth, whom Sarisbury thrashed by 159 runs a week earlier, sat in the torrential mid-summer rain on Southsea seafront as their potential ‘home banker’ with bottom-of-the-table OTs & Romsey was washed out.
Basil Akram (30) flew out of the traps, with six fours off the 14 balls he faced, but at 34 Sarisbury lost not only the ex-Hampshire second teamer but also fellow opener Ryan Covey (2), who failed against his former team-mates.
But Sarisbury’s eventual 247 began to take shape around Ricky Rawlins (89), who shared a century partnership with Harry Hovey (37) and then skipper Matt Journeaux (23).
“All credit to the pair who had to dig it out at times,' said Journeaux.
“Harry (Hovey) likes to hit boundaries, but sensibly reined himself in a little.”
“At one stage we looked like getting around 280 but their spinners came on and were difficult to get away.
“We still felt anything over 200 on that wicket was a good score.”
Rawlins hit a six and ten fours in his 89, but his departure at 205 triggered a collapse, with the last seven wickets falling for 42 runs, principally against Harry Munt (2-43) and Rob Nicklin (3-38).
Teenage left-armer Jack Campbell, who played for the Academy last week, took 3-54, including the prize scalp of Akram.
Rain began falling during the tea interval and some 90 minutes play was lost, leaving Liphook a revised target of 219 off 39 overs.
That target grew to significant proportions when Shayne Freemantle (3-27) ripped into Liphook’s top order, leaving the East Hampshire side 36-4.
But Liphook, minus the influential Suman Ganguly, refused to lie down and Giles Cover (52) and Munt added 76.
Munt (57) and Grant Rouse (33) hit six maximums but Covey (3-47), who had been on the receiving end, got both half-centurions and Rouse as Liphook tumbled from a threatening 162-5 to 181 all out, with Akram removing the tail.