NVKO XI Vs Tichbourne Park

Sparsholt won the toss and unsurprising decided to bowl at a damp Locks Lane. Alex Dilley's first over however suggested that there was nothing wrong with the deck, with 5 of the 6 balls coming through at head height and at some considerable pace. Mike Haworth opened up up the hill, and soon had the ball moving away nicely. Alex struck first, with Tim Vokes taking a sharp catch at slip to remove Cheyney, and Mike then nipped out Tom Allam. No more wickets fell for a while, but both DIlley and Haworth troubled the batsmen, with Dilley hitting WIll Allam a painful blow on the foot that eventually saw him retire hurt. At drinks, Tichborne were 53-2 and Sparsholt were looking to make sure Tichborne didn't get away.

However, after tea, the combination of Mike Doubell and Jon Vokes starting to take wickets, and Tichborne lost their last 8 wickets for just 12 runs, subsiding from 66-5 to 67 all out in quick time. 

At tea the old heads were reminding Ed Jenner that there was 40 overs left to score 68 runs, and there was no need to go mad trying to get them.  9 balls into the innings, Sparsholt were 16-0, with Jenner both dealing with the short bowling harshly, and then more surprisingly was seen running a 3... at the other end Jon Sankey gave a regulation chance to the keeper that was not taken, before having a couple more lives. Jenner was well caught at gully for 26, which brought Lewis Dunford to the crease and he and Jon saw the Trees home in the 13th over, to bring up a 9 wicket victory... the winning runs smashed straight by Jon Sankey for 6.

Hambledon await in the final on 8 June.