ECB SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION 2

Sparsholt 271 for 7 beat Portsmouth 245 for 9 by 26 runs.

Cala Homes sponsored Sparsholt reversed their early season defeat at the hands of Portsmouth, recording their fourth win from the last five games and consolidating fourth place in a very tight league table. After heavy overnight storms another abandonment was feared but in the end, sunshine prevailed on the south coast, and more than 500 runs were scored at sunny Southsea. Sparsholt batted first, but lost Jon Sankey to the first ball of the match, good enough to nick one to the ‘keeper  – Jayden Derosa (25) and Lewis Dunford added 62 before Derosa was trapped in front to one which perhaps kept a little low. Tom Foster then scored another excellent thirty, showing that he is now comfortable at this level as he and Dunford added 105, Lewis went almost straight away for a great 71, and if the bowlers thought that they could relax they had to think again as first Ed Jenner (21), and then Dave Gough (34) and Tim Vokes (35) smashed 100 off the last twelve overs. Rubin McArdle (3 for 64) and Aussie Pat Burns (2 for 62) were the most successful bowlers for the hosts.

Sparsholt were missing several frontline bowlers but Jon Vokes (1 for 40, sharp gully catch by Jenner) led the attack with Mike Haworth, bowling much better than his figures suggest. The unfortunate Sankey put down a straightforward slip catch, and JV wasn’t able to hold onto a tough return catch smashed back at him. The hosts made steady progress, but were always behind the required rate Jamie Mitchell (35), Harry Collyer (35), Dave Henderson (36) Matt Shaw (45) and Rob Jones (24) all batted well, but skipper Andy Worth juggled his depleted bowling attack skilfully - Dave Gough ( 3 for 51, including a ‘hole in one’ as a full toss was slammed into the adjacent pitch and putt course – he also bowled Portsmouth skipper Dave Henderson with a ‘quarter tracket which then almost went underground) and Mike Haworth ( 3 for 33, 3 wickets in four balls, all bowled, pretty boring compared to the Gough wickets!) being most successful. There were also wickets for Jon Sankey and Tim Vokes as the Portsmouth overs ran out 26 runs short.

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE COUNTY DIVISIoN 4N

Sparsholt II 139 for 3 beat Hurstbourne Priors 138 all out by 7 wickets

Sparsholt Second XI got their promotion push back on track this weekend with an resounding seven wicket victory over Hurstbourne Priors on home turf. The team clearly enjoyed being in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Norman Edwards ground – astonishingly due many cancellations this was their first home match of the season, and not surprisingly no one knew the keycode to access the pavilion keys!

A green pitch encouraged Sparsholt skipper David Coulthard to insert Hurstbourne, but the wicket played well throughout and with the visitors 60 without loss off 12 overs it was looking a poor decision. However, Sparsholt's multi-generational slow bowling attack of Andy Pryce, Oscar Birnie, Mike and Nick Doubell wrested back control once Mike Doubell (4-27) had removed the dangerous Ashok Nautiyal. Hurstbourne's batting fell away badly thereafter to post a total of only 138.

It was a target that held few fears for a strong Sparsholt batting order. For a brief period at 45-2 it looked as if there may be a wobble but Birnie batted well for his 35 to get the chase launched. Following his one wicket from one ball bowling contribution Dan Pickering completed a match of useful cameos with a briskly entertaining 30 not out with the bat and a calmly authoritative unbeaten 52 from the experienced Richard Vaughan anchored the innings to see Sparsholt home inside 32 overs. The win keeps Sparsholt in third place.

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE REGIONAL DIVISION 4NW

SPARSHOLT III 191 all out beat Easton and Martyr Worthy 183 all out by eight runs

Alex Whiting’s team maintained their unbeaten run, and remain in second place in the table after another narrow win, this time against local rivals Easton. If any of the below is inaccurate, then please accept the author’s apologies as it is the best I could do interpreting the results sheet forwarded to me. Even with the help of my enigma machine, the Rosetta Stone and my boy’s own ‘ How to crack secret codes’ I was still struggling to get to the bottom of it!

From what I can gather,  Sparsholt batted first and Steve Rowe (16), Tom Brook (26) and Nayan Phagami (39) were the main contributors to the early part of the innings before Andy Trivett (35) added some impetus at the end. For Easton Will Upcraft (3 for 49) was most successful, with Ethan Brackstone, Lee Spencer and Adrian Lee taking two wickets apiece. Easton looked on the way to victory with Adrian Lee (46) and Lee Arthur (69) going well after early wickets from Nayan Phagami (2 for 14), but Andy Trivett (4 for 42) completed a fine all round performance to see Sparsholt home with Tom Brook also taking two late wickets.