A five-wicket haul by Andy Marks, backed up by half-centuries from Joe Theobald and Nick Turner, guided Hursley Park to a precious seven-wicket win over fellow Southern Premier Division 3 strugglers Lymington II at The Quarters.
Without a win in five previous outings, Hursley seized the initiative by taking wickets and once Tom Atkins, Oli Kelly and Drew Robinson were back in the pavilion at 16-3, Lymington were in trouble.
Conor Moors (25) and Jack Rogers (25) rallied, but a five-wicket haul by Andy Marks (5-35) alongside the ever economical Tom Burns (2-21) meant only Ed Kelly (23) of the later Lymington batsman was able to make any impression.
When Kieron Moors (2-47) nipped out Jeremy Wright and Boswell Chapangu in successive balls, Lymington sniffed an outside chance.
But Joe Theobald, with an unbeaten 54, and Nick Turner (54), who recently joined Hursley from East Lancashire, calmed fraying nerves with a 96-run partnership which effectively sealed the outcome.
The win – their first since the final day of the 2015 season, by which time they were long since relegated – lifted Hursley Park off the SPL3 basement, effectively two points above Ryde, who lost a low scoring affair by 32 runs to Fair Oak.
Runs were at a premium in the damp Lapstone Park surroundings, with Oaks rallying from 32-3 (Matt Webb 2-21) to 92-5 on the back of opener Tom Hockenhull (36) and Steve Plowman (36), the only batsmen making double figures.
Ben Wadmore (3-19) and Sam Rockley (3-4) sent the last five wickets tumbling for 19 runs to Fair Oak to 117 all out.
But Andy Mash (4-44) and James Featherstone (2-22) were more than a match for the Ryde batsmen and every ten runs or so the islanders lost wickets. They were all out for 85 and have still yet to win in their new surrounds.
The consistent Paul Hawkins (54) took his season’s run tally to 319 with his fourth fifty-plus score, only to watch St Cross Symondians’ modest 157-9 be overhauled by previously winless Havant.
Teenager Bobby Dyer (6-28), pictured, dropped a gentle reminder to Hampshire U17 selectors with a 6-28 spin return, while Andrew Galliers (43) and Pete Hayward (38) steered Havant home, despite Alan Whitman’s 5-31 haul.
Langley Manor strengthened their grip on the Division 3 leadership – without physically playing !
While their visit to Waterlooville was predictably called off due to a waterlogged Rowlands Avenue outfield, the Manor’s nearest challengers both lost.
St Cross Symondians II remain third despite a three-wicket defeat by previously winless Havant II.
Second placed Basingstoke & North Hants II saw their unbeaten four-match start ended at Privett Park by Gosport Borough, who recovered from an indifferent start to post 171.
New Zealander Mike Ruffell (53), younger brother of the Sparsholt all-rounder, made a key half-century for Gosport, whose visit to Langley Manor on Saturday will be key in the top-table chase.
Basingstoke lost both openers cheaply and were in serious strife when Matt Thankachan (40) got out at 85-7. Steve Bucksey (36) and Harry Smith (18) added a precious 53, but when Tom Larner (2-23) got them both out the visitors fell to 153 all out.
Without a win in five previous outings, Hursley seized the initiative by taking wickets and once Tom Atkins, Oli Kelly and Drew Robinson were back in the pavilion at 16-3, Lymington were in trouble.
Conor Moors (25) and Jack Rogers (25) rallied, but a five-wicket haul by Andy Marks (5-35) alongside the ever economical Tom Burns (2-21) meant only Ed Kelly (23) of the later Lymington batsman was able to make any impression.
When Kieron Moors (2-47) nipped out Jeremy Wright and Boswell Chapangu in successive balls, Lymington sniffed an outside chance.
But Joe Theobald, with an unbeaten 54, and Nick Turner (54), who recently joined Hursley from East Lancashire, calmed fraying nerves with a 96-run partnership which effectively sealed the outcome.
The win – their first since the final day of the 2015 season, by which time they were long since relegated – lifted Hursley Park off the SPL3 basement, effectively two points above Ryde, who lost a low scoring affair by 32 runs to Fair Oak.
Runs were at a premium in the damp Lapstone Park surroundings, with Oaks rallying from 32-3 (Matt Webb 2-21) to 92-5 on the back of opener Tom Hockenhull (36) and Steve Plowman (36), the only batsmen making double figures.
Ben Wadmore (3-19) and Sam Rockley (3-4) sent the last five wickets tumbling for 19 runs to Fair Oak to 117 all out.
But Andy Mash (4-44) and James Featherstone (2-22) were more than a match for the Ryde batsmen and every ten runs or so the islanders lost wickets. They were all out for 85 and have still yet to win in their new surrounds.
The consistent Paul Hawkins (54) took his season’s run tally to 319 with his fourth fifty-plus score, only to watch St Cross Symondians’ modest 157-9 be overhauled by previously winless Havant.
Teenager Bobby Dyer (6-28), pictured, dropped a gentle reminder to Hampshire U17 selectors with a 6-28 spin return, while Andrew Galliers (43) and Pete Hayward (38) steered Havant home, despite Alan Whitman’s 5-31 haul.
Langley Manor strengthened their grip on the Division 3 leadership – without physically playing !
While their visit to Waterlooville was predictably called off due to a waterlogged Rowlands Avenue outfield, the Manor’s nearest challengers both lost.
St Cross Symondians II remain third despite a three-wicket defeat by previously winless Havant II.
Second placed Basingstoke & North Hants II saw their unbeaten four-match start ended at Privett Park by Gosport Borough, who recovered from an indifferent start to post 171.
New Zealander Mike Ruffell (53), younger brother of the Sparsholt all-rounder, made a key half-century for Gosport, whose visit to Langley Manor on Saturday will be key in the top-table chase.
Basingstoke lost both openers cheaply and were in serious strife when Matt Thankachan (40) got out at 85-7. Steve Bucksey (36) and Harry Smith (18) added a precious 53, but when Tom Larner (2-23) got them both out the visitors fell to 153 all out.
