Portsmouth were given a wake-up call in their Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 title charge.
That’s the verdict of Hambledon skipper Rob Atkins, who watched with pride as his side gave the leaders a huge scare at Ridge Meadow. Set 168 for victory, the visitors scraped home with just one wicket to spare.
Will Smitherman struck 58 as Portsmouth limped to a seventh consecutive triumph. But according to Atkins, it was Matt Shaw’s unbeaten 37 which proved crucial, writes Steve Wilson, The News.
‘I reckon we gave them a bit of a wake-up call,’ said the Hambledon skipper. ‘We were without three of our most gifted players but the lads really got stuck in and deserved more from the game. I’m immensely proud of them all.
Will batted very well but it was Matt’s knock which made the difference. He gave the rest of their guys a lesson in how to guts out a result.
‘They may need a few more innings like that this season,’said Atkins reflecting on the performance of Matt, son of former South Hants TC legend Arthur Shaw.
Pat Burns helped himself to 5-24 as Hambledon slid to 118-9 after being asked to bat. But Mark Woodman (25 not out) and Prad Bains (18) frustrated the Portsmouth attack by adding 49 for the last wicket.
Bains, who was playing third-team cricket last term, then led the Dons attack with 4-25 as they had the visitors in real trouble at 23-4 and 129-7.
‘Prad was fantastic and has been one of a number of success stories for us so far this season,’ added Atkins.
Dons batsman Spencer Le-Clercq is set for a spell on the sidelines, though, after suffering a double break and possible severed tendon in a finger on his left hand.
Rob Newman hit an undefeated century as Old Tauntonians & Romsey drove a spoke into Paultons’ promotion prospects – and at the same time enhanced theirs – with a resounding seven-wicket win at Whitemoor Lane.
In the end, they romped home with 19 overs to spare.
But at the start of the OTs innings, when they stumbled to 11-3 chasing 182, it looked as though it would be anything like straightforward.
Openers Pete Newman and Charlie King were back in the pavilion alongside Jody Brown when Rob Newman and Will Edwards began a remarkable turnaround.
Newman, who commendably returns from Exeter University to play for OTs each weekend, went on to hit 16 fours in an unbeaten 109, his second Premier League hundred.
He shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 172 with Will Edwards, whose 53 not out included a six and eight fours.
Paultons’ top order also failed to muster – Steve Smith (3-32) and Danny Mogg (2-20) reducing the hosts to 72-5 after winning the toss.
Nathan Feltham (34) and Tony Richman (39) added 56 before Jody Brown (3-10) ended the Paultons inning at 182 9Jack Murrell 20).
OTs win leaves a four-point gap between themselves and Paultons, who retain second place.
Having won their opening three games and then lost the next three, it was important Tichborne Park got back to winning ways.
Fortunately, Fawley arrived in rural Alresford with a weakened side, which Tichborne beat by 54 runs.
Queenslander Justin Reid (50) and Tom Allam (36) top scored in Park’s 184, but only Wayne Royan, with 4-20 and a battling 34, made much impact as Fawley fell to 130 all out.
After a lean five-match start, newly promoted Bashley (Rydal) are coming to terms with life in SPL2 and won for the second consecutive week, beating Langley Manor by nine wickets.
Connor Browne (35) and the evergreen Kevin Cresswell (26) took the Manor to 59-0, but with New Zealand international Luke Ronchi looking on, the innings fell apart.
Neil Taylor (3-16), Andy Neal (3-13) and Ross Grierson (2-14) sent Langley Manor into freefall as the last nine wickets fell for 40 runs and the visitors to 118 all out.
Ryan Taylor didn’t hang about, smashing two sixes and ten fours in a breezy 70, which left Simon Ridley (32 not out) to tie up the loose ends.
That’s the verdict of Hambledon skipper Rob Atkins, who watched with pride as his side gave the leaders a huge scare at Ridge Meadow. Set 168 for victory, the visitors scraped home with just one wicket to spare.
Will Smitherman struck 58 as Portsmouth limped to a seventh consecutive triumph. But according to Atkins, it was Matt Shaw’s unbeaten 37 which proved crucial, writes Steve Wilson, The News.
‘I reckon we gave them a bit of a wake-up call,’ said the Hambledon skipper. ‘We were without three of our most gifted players but the lads really got stuck in and deserved more from the game. I’m immensely proud of them all.
Will batted very well but it was Matt’s knock which made the difference. He gave the rest of their guys a lesson in how to guts out a result.
‘They may need a few more innings like that this season,’said Atkins reflecting on the performance of Matt, son of former South Hants TC legend Arthur Shaw.
Pat Burns helped himself to 5-24 as Hambledon slid to 118-9 after being asked to bat. But Mark Woodman (25 not out) and Prad Bains (18) frustrated the Portsmouth attack by adding 49 for the last wicket.
Bains, who was playing third-team cricket last term, then led the Dons attack with 4-25 as they had the visitors in real trouble at 23-4 and 129-7.
‘Prad was fantastic and has been one of a number of success stories for us so far this season,’ added Atkins.
Dons batsman Spencer Le-Clercq is set for a spell on the sidelines, though, after suffering a double break and possible severed tendon in a finger on his left hand.
Rob Newman hit an undefeated century as Old Tauntonians & Romsey drove a spoke into Paultons’ promotion prospects – and at the same time enhanced theirs – with a resounding seven-wicket win at Whitemoor Lane.
In the end, they romped home with 19 overs to spare.
But at the start of the OTs innings, when they stumbled to 11-3 chasing 182, it looked as though it would be anything like straightforward.
Openers Pete Newman and Charlie King were back in the pavilion alongside Jody Brown when Rob Newman and Will Edwards began a remarkable turnaround.
Newman, who commendably returns from Exeter University to play for OTs each weekend, went on to hit 16 fours in an unbeaten 109, his second Premier League hundred.
He shared an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 172 with Will Edwards, whose 53 not out included a six and eight fours.
Paultons’ top order also failed to muster – Steve Smith (3-32) and Danny Mogg (2-20) reducing the hosts to 72-5 after winning the toss.
Nathan Feltham (34) and Tony Richman (39) added 56 before Jody Brown (3-10) ended the Paultons inning at 182 9Jack Murrell 20).
OTs win leaves a four-point gap between themselves and Paultons, who retain second place.
Having won their opening three games and then lost the next three, it was important Tichborne Park got back to winning ways.
Fortunately, Fawley arrived in rural Alresford with a weakened side, which Tichborne beat by 54 runs.
Queenslander Justin Reid (50) and Tom Allam (36) top scored in Park’s 184, but only Wayne Royan, with 4-20 and a battling 34, made much impact as Fawley fell to 130 all out.
After a lean five-match start, newly promoted Bashley (Rydal) are coming to terms with life in SPL2 and won for the second consecutive week, beating Langley Manor by nine wickets.
Connor Browne (35) and the evergreen Kevin Cresswell (26) took the Manor to 59-0, but with New Zealand international Luke Ronchi looking on, the innings fell apart.
Neil Taylor (3-16), Andy Neal (3-13) and Ross Grierson (2-14) sent Langley Manor into freefall as the last nine wickets fell for 40 runs and the visitors to 118 all out.
Ryan Taylor didn’t hang about, smashing two sixes and ten fours in a breezy 70, which left Simon Ridley (32 not out) to tie up the loose ends.