Nick Wheeler’s spectacular boundary catch, which led to the dismissal of danger man Alex Dilley, was arguably the catalyst behind Hursley Park’s dramatic three-run win over Southern Electric Premier Division 2 neighbours Sparsholt at The Quarters.
Having already hit two sixes and three fours, Dilley (34) looked capable of engineering a thrilling Sparsholt win in the bottom-of-the-table ‘six pointer.’
But, with Sparsholt 205-5 chasing down Hursley Park’s 232-7, Wheeler took a tumbling catch on the boundary off Andy Marks (3-42).
Dilley’s was only the sixth Sparsholt wicket to fall, but Wheeler’s catch probably turned the course of a pulsating derby which culminated in Sparsholt losing two wickets in the final over and falling three runs short at 229 all out.
Hursley were reduced to 29-2 by the new ball attack of Dilley and New Zealander Kyle Ruffell (3-49), who produced a ‘jaffa’ of a ball to remove Zimbabwean left-hander Bothwell Chapangu on debut.
Hursley, who had lost five of their six previous games, rallied, with Matt Branford (64) being assisted by Neil Sutherland (35) and Jason Lee (30) as they hosts built a decent total.
Ruffell and Jon Vokes (3-58) created inroads, but some lively scoring by Wheeler (28) and Alex Sutherland (21) saw Hursley to 232-7.
Sparsholt got off to a flier as Ruffell and Stu Tognarelli raced to 40 inside five overs.
After Ruffell (38) departed at 67-1, Lewis Dunford (19) combined with Tognarelli to add a further 67.
However, the loss of Tognarelli (78) as one of three victims for Alex Sutherland (3-67) sparked a flurry of wickets as Sparsholt slumped to 205-7, still 28 short, despite Alex Dilley's rapid 34.
The target proved just too much for the visitors, who were eventually dismissed for 229, Wheeler finishing with 3-35.
Despite the win, Hursley Park remain bottom of SPL2, five points behind Sparsholt and 12 adrift of Hambledon, who suffered a one-wicket defeat to leaders Portsmouth.
• Nick Wheeler has replaced Matt Mettam as Hursley Park captain.
Having already hit two sixes and three fours, Dilley (34) looked capable of engineering a thrilling Sparsholt win in the bottom-of-the-table ‘six pointer.’
But, with Sparsholt 205-5 chasing down Hursley Park’s 232-7, Wheeler took a tumbling catch on the boundary off Andy Marks (3-42).
Dilley’s was only the sixth Sparsholt wicket to fall, but Wheeler’s catch probably turned the course of a pulsating derby which culminated in Sparsholt losing two wickets in the final over and falling three runs short at 229 all out.
Hursley were reduced to 29-2 by the new ball attack of Dilley and New Zealander Kyle Ruffell (3-49), who produced a ‘jaffa’ of a ball to remove Zimbabwean left-hander Bothwell Chapangu on debut.
Hursley, who had lost five of their six previous games, rallied, with Matt Branford (64) being assisted by Neil Sutherland (35) and Jason Lee (30) as they hosts built a decent total.
Ruffell and Jon Vokes (3-58) created inroads, but some lively scoring by Wheeler (28) and Alex Sutherland (21) saw Hursley to 232-7.
Sparsholt got off to a flier as Ruffell and Stu Tognarelli raced to 40 inside five overs.
After Ruffell (38) departed at 67-1, Lewis Dunford (19) combined with Tognarelli to add a further 67.
However, the loss of Tognarelli (78) as one of three victims for Alex Sutherland (3-67) sparked a flurry of wickets as Sparsholt slumped to 205-7, still 28 short, despite Alex Dilley's rapid 34.
The target proved just too much for the visitors, who were eventually dismissed for 229, Wheeler finishing with 3-35.
Despite the win, Hursley Park remain bottom of SPL2, five points behind Sparsholt and 12 adrift of Hambledon, who suffered a one-wicket defeat to leaders Portsmouth.
• Nick Wheeler has replaced Matt Mettam as Hursley Park captain.