Sparsholt started their competitive season with a National Village Knockout first round victory against local rivals Easton and Martyr Worthy on Sunday at the Norman Edwards Ground. 

Having won the toss and elected to bat Sparsholt made steady progress with Mike Howarth and Archie Norris moving the score along at 5 an over from the off. Both capitalising on any full deliveries or width and making excellent use of the already quick outfield. After the fall of Norris who was bowled by Jamie Banks, Tim Vokes set about building another significant partnership with Howarth who continued to move along at an increasing pace. Howarth dominated a partnership of 67 with Vokes before being caught off the bowling of Mandrekar. 

Vokes was joined by Taylor who struck a couple of hard hit boundaries and briefly threatened to get Sparsholt to a huge total but when he fell to Ian Stuart’s off-spin the brakes were put on Sparsholt. Vokes continued on to 37 despite losing Liam Doran and Craig Harrington in quick succession but when he fell Sparsholt’s innings was faltering. However a typically robust 30 in just 12 balls from David Banks ensured Sparsholt posted a more than competitive 199 as wickets continued to fall, Sparsholt eventually being all out at the end of the 34th over. 

Easton in reply started steadily although couldn’t quite get the scoreboard moving as quickly as they might have liked as Taylor and Howarth set about solid spells of seam and swing bowling. It wasn’t until Adi Mandrekar steered a back of a length deliver from Dan Weir to Liam Doran at gully that the first wicket fell. New signing Callum Doran, younger brother of Liam, picked up two wickets with his off spin and Craig Harrington grabbed the wicket of opening batsman Jamie Banks for 38. Whilst Easton had not been overly troubled by the Sparsholt boundary they found the run rate escalating quickly. Ben Stanbrook (61 not out) supported by Ling, set about a late innings surge that wasn’t quite enough to get Easton close enough to significantly concern Sparsholt who ran out 26 run victors. 

Sparsholt move on to the next round, an away fixture at Amport, whilst their first season in Division 1 of the 21Six Southern Premier League commences next Saturday when they host last season promotion chasers Sarisbury.