Sparsholt were a popular pre-season choice for honours in Southern Premier League Division 2, but their prospects of featuring in the promotion stakes are set to hinge on the outcome of their next three games.
With four defeats in nine matches, Sparsholt lie fifth and on the fringe of the race.
Their next three games are crucial – with Saturday’s Locks Lane visit by Calmore Sports preceding matches with Hambledon and table topping Trojans.
They flexed their muscles for those season defining games by sending a 311-run blast in the direction of mid-table South Wilts II, who they beat by 138 runs at Bemerton.
Teenage opener Mike Haworth (75) struck two magnificent cover drives in the first over before Tognarelli was dropped at mid-on in the fourth.
It proved expensive as Sparsholt had 75 on the board before they were separated in the 12th over when Rob Pitman bowled Tognarelli (45).
Former Totton & Eling and Sarisbury Athletic skipper Dave Banks joined Haworth, the pair adding over 100 and looking set to make centuries before Haworth top edged a hook and was caught by keeper John Burton.
There was no respite for the South Wilts bowlers as Tom Foster (55) joined Banks and took the score well past 200 with still 15 overs left – Banks, back to his imperious best after short lean spell with the bat, struck two sixes, one over the high fence and onto the roof of the adjacent houses before he hit a tired looking shot to point and was caught for 73.
With a massive score for Sparsholt looking a real possibility, the plucky South Wilts bowlers, supported by some excellent ground fielding, struck back.
Pitman (4-41) and Christian Pain (3-43) took wickets regularly as the later batmen looked to push on, but Foster (55), with his first half century this season, made sure that any damage was limited as Sparsholt were bowled out for 311 with an over to spare.
After a solid SW start, Kiwi Kyle Ruffell took two wickets in successive overs to leave the score at 35 for 2 – the second was a magnificent diving catch by Banks at backward point.
Sam Arnold (31) fought a lone battle, but when Banks (2-21) and spinner Nick Doubell (3-51) then took five more between them, and the match with South Wilts 79-6 was all but over.
Pain (41) and Paul Draper (23) provided late resistance before Ruffell (3-31), Jon Vokes and Mike Haworth bowled South Wilts out for 173.
With four defeats in nine matches, Sparsholt lie fifth and on the fringe of the race.
Their next three games are crucial – with Saturday’s Locks Lane visit by Calmore Sports preceding matches with Hambledon and table topping Trojans.
They flexed their muscles for those season defining games by sending a 311-run blast in the direction of mid-table South Wilts II, who they beat by 138 runs at Bemerton.
Teenage opener Mike Haworth (75) struck two magnificent cover drives in the first over before Tognarelli was dropped at mid-on in the fourth.
It proved expensive as Sparsholt had 75 on the board before they were separated in the 12th over when Rob Pitman bowled Tognarelli (45).
Former Totton & Eling and Sarisbury Athletic skipper Dave Banks joined Haworth, the pair adding over 100 and looking set to make centuries before Haworth top edged a hook and was caught by keeper John Burton.
There was no respite for the South Wilts bowlers as Tom Foster (55) joined Banks and took the score well past 200 with still 15 overs left – Banks, back to his imperious best after short lean spell with the bat, struck two sixes, one over the high fence and onto the roof of the adjacent houses before he hit a tired looking shot to point and was caught for 73.
With a massive score for Sparsholt looking a real possibility, the plucky South Wilts bowlers, supported by some excellent ground fielding, struck back.
Pitman (4-41) and Christian Pain (3-43) took wickets regularly as the later batmen looked to push on, but Foster (55), with his first half century this season, made sure that any damage was limited as Sparsholt were bowled out for 311 with an over to spare.
After a solid SW start, Kiwi Kyle Ruffell took two wickets in successive overs to leave the score at 35 for 2 – the second was a magnificent diving catch by Banks at backward point.
Sam Arnold (31) fought a lone battle, but when Banks (2-21) and spinner Nick Doubell (3-51) then took five more between them, and the match with South Wilts 79-6 was all but over.
Pain (41) and Paul Draper (23) provided late resistance before Ruffell (3-31), Jon Vokes and Mike Haworth bowled South Wilts out for 173.