James Marshall experienced the highs and lows of cricket in the space of a few hours as Hambledon played out a thrilling tie with Fawley in their Southern Electric Premier 2 encounter.
The Dons all-rounder provided some useful late runs for his side with a brisk 35 not out in their total of 231-five.
New skipper Rob Atkins (76) and James Atkinson (54) had earlier laid the foundations for what looked a handy total by Ridge Meadow standards.
But the Hambledon bowling lacked accuracy and control as Fawley blasted away in their reply.
Ex-captain Ian Turner was back to his miserly best with 1-15, but the rest of the attack leaked runs at regular intervals.
Marshall, however, claimed 6-51 and appeared to put his side within touching distance of victory as he was backed up by his fielders taking some good catches.
But bowling the final over – with Fawley needing 14 to win – Marshall was hit for two maximums James Woolgar (23) and Dean Godden (16), and was then unable to prevent the single off the final ball of the match.
With the Fawley batsmen going for a second run, which would have nicked the win, Kyle Shinn picked out Dons keeper Will Bond, who whipped the bails off just in time to share the spoils.
Atkins said: ‘We’re disappointed we didn’t win because we should have been able to defend that total at the Ridge. The batting was really good – from start to finish – but our bowling up front let us down. We have been pretty strong in that area this season, so that just made it more frustrating.
‘It’s a case of consistency – we are good in periods but haven’t managed to put it together for a whole game. Jimmy and Turns dragged us back into it but a few big hits from their tail had us staring at defeat again. So it could have been worse. I was delighted at the halfway stage. I just wasn’t quite so happy when we walked off with a tie!’
Chasing down Hambledon’s 231-5, Fawley got themselves in a good position through Andy Parratt (61) and Kieron Earl (49), but after a six-wicket spell by James Marshall (6-51), it was left to the tail-enders to get the runs.
Alex Dilley (3-46) and New Zealander Kyle Ruffell (3-34) shared the wicket taking spoils as Sparsholt won their derby at Tichborne Park by 61 runs.
They ripped the heart out of the Tichborne Park batting, which fell away once fifth-wicket pair Justin Reid (34) and Ben Copeman (23) were parted at 98-5.
Dave Gough (67) and Mike Haworth (37) repaired early damage at the top of the Sparsholt order, while Andy Worth (42) made an important contribution as the visitors posted 202-9 (Paul Primmer 3-38).
Dave Henderson warned his Portsmouth side over the possible complacency creeping into their game – despite chalking up a fifth straight win.
The St Helen’s side had to dig deep in their closest contest of the season so far as they claimed a two-wicket success over Langley Manor, who wobbled at 40-3 before Jack Budd (50) and Stevie Harris (29) propped up the midele-order.
Left-arm spinner Andy Marston (4-25), Jed Whitecross (3-31) and Australian Pat Burns (3-32) led the way with the ball as Langley Manor were bowled out for 174.
It was set up for a straightforward chase but Portsmouth struggled with only Scott Curwood (40) able to stick around and they had to rely on Vikram Dawson (33 not out) to eventually guide them home.
Skipper Henderson said: ‘It felt like some of our batsmen didn’t apply themselves to the game situation and the conditions.
‘One of the downsides of being unbeaten is that you can become a little complacent so will be stressing in the next match not to take anything for granted.
‘But Vikram Dawson’s unbeaten 33 was majestic and he saw us home with the winning runs.’
Hampshire’s Chris Wood was the influential player as Old Tauntonians & Romsey cemented themselves into a sound mid-table Division 2 slot with a 32-run win at Bashley (Rydal).
He hit a half-century and later took four wickets in separate spells as OTs left last year’s Division 3 champions still searching for a first win.
Wood (54) and Richard Newman (32) got OTs out of a pickle at 18-2 and, with most of the lower order making a contribution, saw the visitors to 198-9.
Bashley II fielded five of last season’s Premier Division side, but seldom threatened a maiden win in their new environment.
Simon Ridley (27) and left-hander Callum Maher, who top scored with 63, eased Bashley’s reply to 97-2, but once they had progressed to 143-4, Bash lost four wickets for five runs – and with it the match.
Wood, with figures of 4-31, removed the dangerous Maher, while the Newman spin twins struck three times as Bashley were marooned 32 runs short at 166 all out.
Hursley Park look as though they might spend the summer fighting a second consecutive relegation.
Bereft of runs, they only managed 128 against Paultons and were beaten by five wickets by the second placed Ower club.
Hursley were 47-5 at one point – Jack Murrell taking two early scalps – but Jacob Lee’s 39 and a gritty knock from Oli Green (18) propped them up in mid-innings.
Paultons always had the edge with the ball, wicketkeeper Chris Hall’s six victims complementing some tidy bowling by left-arm spinner Andy Denney (2-13)and Peter Lamb (3-13), who went through the tail.
Paultons didn’t find the run chase that straightforward, losing three cheap wickets before Eric Linge (49) and former Fair Oak batsman Nathan Feltham (26) got them to within sight of the tape.
The Dons all-rounder provided some useful late runs for his side with a brisk 35 not out in their total of 231-five.
New skipper Rob Atkins (76) and James Atkinson (54) had earlier laid the foundations for what looked a handy total by Ridge Meadow standards.
But the Hambledon bowling lacked accuracy and control as Fawley blasted away in their reply.
Ex-captain Ian Turner was back to his miserly best with 1-15, but the rest of the attack leaked runs at regular intervals.
Marshall, however, claimed 6-51 and appeared to put his side within touching distance of victory as he was backed up by his fielders taking some good catches.
But bowling the final over – with Fawley needing 14 to win – Marshall was hit for two maximums James Woolgar (23) and Dean Godden (16), and was then unable to prevent the single off the final ball of the match.
With the Fawley batsmen going for a second run, which would have nicked the win, Kyle Shinn picked out Dons keeper Will Bond, who whipped the bails off just in time to share the spoils.
Atkins said: ‘We’re disappointed we didn’t win because we should have been able to defend that total at the Ridge. The batting was really good – from start to finish – but our bowling up front let us down. We have been pretty strong in that area this season, so that just made it more frustrating.
‘It’s a case of consistency – we are good in periods but haven’t managed to put it together for a whole game. Jimmy and Turns dragged us back into it but a few big hits from their tail had us staring at defeat again. So it could have been worse. I was delighted at the halfway stage. I just wasn’t quite so happy when we walked off with a tie!’
Chasing down Hambledon’s 231-5, Fawley got themselves in a good position through Andy Parratt (61) and Kieron Earl (49), but after a six-wicket spell by James Marshall (6-51), it was left to the tail-enders to get the runs.
Alex Dilley (3-46) and New Zealander Kyle Ruffell (3-34) shared the wicket taking spoils as Sparsholt won their derby at Tichborne Park by 61 runs.
They ripped the heart out of the Tichborne Park batting, which fell away once fifth-wicket pair Justin Reid (34) and Ben Copeman (23) were parted at 98-5.
Dave Gough (67) and Mike Haworth (37) repaired early damage at the top of the Sparsholt order, while Andy Worth (42) made an important contribution as the visitors posted 202-9 (Paul Primmer 3-38).
Dave Henderson warned his Portsmouth side over the possible complacency creeping into their game – despite chalking up a fifth straight win.
The St Helen’s side had to dig deep in their closest contest of the season so far as they claimed a two-wicket success over Langley Manor, who wobbled at 40-3 before Jack Budd (50) and Stevie Harris (29) propped up the midele-order.
Left-arm spinner Andy Marston (4-25), Jed Whitecross (3-31) and Australian Pat Burns (3-32) led the way with the ball as Langley Manor were bowled out for 174.
It was set up for a straightforward chase but Portsmouth struggled with only Scott Curwood (40) able to stick around and they had to rely on Vikram Dawson (33 not out) to eventually guide them home.
Skipper Henderson said: ‘It felt like some of our batsmen didn’t apply themselves to the game situation and the conditions.
‘One of the downsides of being unbeaten is that you can become a little complacent so will be stressing in the next match not to take anything for granted.
‘But Vikram Dawson’s unbeaten 33 was majestic and he saw us home with the winning runs.’
Hampshire’s Chris Wood was the influential player as Old Tauntonians & Romsey cemented themselves into a sound mid-table Division 2 slot with a 32-run win at Bashley (Rydal).
He hit a half-century and later took four wickets in separate spells as OTs left last year’s Division 3 champions still searching for a first win.
Wood (54) and Richard Newman (32) got OTs out of a pickle at 18-2 and, with most of the lower order making a contribution, saw the visitors to 198-9.
Bashley II fielded five of last season’s Premier Division side, but seldom threatened a maiden win in their new environment.
Simon Ridley (27) and left-hander Callum Maher, who top scored with 63, eased Bashley’s reply to 97-2, but once they had progressed to 143-4, Bash lost four wickets for five runs – and with it the match.
Wood, with figures of 4-31, removed the dangerous Maher, while the Newman spin twins struck three times as Bashley were marooned 32 runs short at 166 all out.
Hursley Park look as though they might spend the summer fighting a second consecutive relegation.
Bereft of runs, they only managed 128 against Paultons and were beaten by five wickets by the second placed Ower club.
Hursley were 47-5 at one point – Jack Murrell taking two early scalps – but Jacob Lee’s 39 and a gritty knock from Oli Green (18) propped them up in mid-innings.
Paultons always had the edge with the ball, wicketkeeper Chris Hall’s six victims complementing some tidy bowling by left-arm spinner Andy Denney (2-13)and Peter Lamb (3-13), who went through the tail.
Paultons didn’t find the run chase that straightforward, losing three cheap wickets before Eric Linge (49) and former Fair Oak batsman Nathan Feltham (26) got them to within sight of the tape.