Cala Homes sponsored Sparsholt recorded back to back league wins after their 12 run victory against Paultons, despite missing six first team players. Sparsholt won the toss and stand in skipper John Sankey elected to bat. Ed Jenner was caught early on after making 5. Opener Jayden Derosa and Tim Vokes put on 27. Vokes had a scare as he edged straight through a fielder, but he was caught minutes later for 11. Derosa and Sankey attacked the bowlers and were rewarded with six boundaries between them. But Sankey went for an aggressive shot and was bowled for 26, putting the score at a healthier 82-3. Sparsholt suffered a middle order collapse though, losing Derosa, Stu Tognarelli (0), and Dan Pickering (0) for 1 run. With the score at 83-6, Dave and Adam Gough set about rebuilding Sparsholt’s innings and with some impressive running, the pair soon brought up Sparsholt’s 100. Dave Gough was eventually run out, with a fine direct hit ending his innings on 21. Sparsholt suffered another little wobble, as Adam Gough was caught for 13 and Jon Vokes fell for 2, leaving the hosts on 123-9. However youngsters Tom Foster (below) and Nick Doubell played a vital part in the victory, as they ensured Sparsholt would finish strongly. Foster added to his 50 not out for the county under 15s the previous Sunday with 3 fours on his way to 21 not out and Doubell made 4 before being stumped. Sparsholt finished on 149 all out, which was a respectable total considering the accurate bowling of Paultons, with Denney’s 3 for 18 making him the pick of the bowlers.

In order to defend their total, Sparsholt needed early wickets, especially due to the absence of regular bowlers Alex Dilley, Steve Wright, Mike Haworth and Mike Doubell. Tim Vokes stepped up though, as he dismissed Paultons’ skipper Stuart Magee for 1, with Adam Gough taking a superb diving catch low to his right. Jon Vokes took a second wicket, leaving the visitors on 9-2 after Ed Jenner caught Hill for 4. Tim Vokes took his second wicket as he bowled Kiwi Scott Duggan for 2. Paultons’ fourth wicket partnership put their innings back on track, putting on 46 runs before Adam Gough caught Raftery for 19 for Jon Vokes’ second wicket. John Sankey took two quick wickets, with dismissing Linge for 32, Derosa taking a good outfield catch, and trapping Weaver lbw for 5, leaving the score at 79-6. Paulton’s seventh wicket partnership proved difficult, as they aggressively pushed the score forward to 131-6 with some big boundaries. But the introduction of Dave Gough to the bowling attack saw Sparsholt get the crucial breakthrough, as Tim Vokes ended Richman’s impressive innings of 35 with another fine catch. Gough took his second wicket when Ed Jenner caught Spearing for 0. This led to a tense finale, with Sparsholt needing 2 wickets to win whilst Paultons needed just 17 runs. Jayden Derosa took the ninth wicket, with Adam Gough catching Robinson for 10 and Dave Gough took his third wicket, trapping Denney lbw for 0 to dismiss Paultons for 137. Sparsholt move above Paultons into fourth place, but a tough match awaits them this week as they entertain league leaders Rowledge on Saturday.

Sparsholt's thirds are now third in the table as they just shaded Otterbourne II in a closely contested match at Southern Water's ground in Otterbourne. The home side won the toss and put the visitors in, who whilst starting sedately, lost their first wicket at 43-1 in the 18th over. Craig Charlesworth started the acceleration (43) plus 20's from Alex Thornton and James Dorward got Sparsholt to within a whisker of another batting point, with Mungo Patterson run out off the last ball to leave Sparsholt on 174-9.
Adam Trivett (6-2-12-0) and Will Rowe (10-0-33-1) opened up, and Otterbourne reached 50 in their 19th over. Greg Whiting (7-0-27-1) and Mungo Patterson (10-0-42-2) nipped out key wickets and at 29 overs, Otterbourne were 100-6. At 36 overs, the score had progressed to 149-6, so just 26 were required off the last 6 overs with wickets in hand, but tight death bowling from James Dorward (5-0-14-1) and Will Rowe (plus a couple of run outs) meant Otterbourne were restricted to 167-8, leaving Sparsholt the winners by 7 runs late into the evening.

Sparsholt U15 side, captained by Tom Procter followed up their great County Cup win against St Cross last week with a close win against Fair Oak, winning the Winchester district element of the County Cup, progressing to the County semi-finals.

Fair Oak batted first and Charlie Gwynn batted well ‎to reach 50. Other than that Sparsholt held Fair Oak's total to 99 off their 20 overs.

For much of the run chase Sparsholt were behind the pace‎, however a mature unbeaten inning of 53 of 46 balls from Thomas Foster helped Sparsholt home. George Ellis hit a towering hook shot towards the leg side boundary to win the game in the 19th over.

Sparsholt now play the winners of the New Forest District‎, New Milton in the semi-finals. The winners will progress to the county finals at the Ageas Bowl. This is a great achievement for a group of young Sparsholt players who have played together since aged 8, and have developed into a talented group of cricketers who now play both colts and adult cricket for Sparsholt.