SPARSHOLT RUE MISSED CHANCES
Posted by Tony Edwards on 15 July 2015
Southern Electric League Division 2
Sparsholt 210 for 9 lost to Portsmouth 216 for 5 by 5 wickets
The Cala Homes sponsored Sparsholt CC travelled to Portsmouth on Saturday in search of back to back league wins away from home.
Having won the toss, the league leaders put Sparsholt in to bat first, looking to put early pressure on their long batting line up.
Openers Mike Haworth (22) and Stu Tognarelli (19) started powerfully, plundering boundaries in each of the first five overs, before Australian Patrick Burns (2-47) struck first to remove Tognarelli.
The introduction of Andy Marston's (3-25) slow left armers brought the wicket of Kyle Ruffell, before an impressive reaction catch from Jed Whitecross off his own bowling removed Mike Haworth shortly after.
Unfortunately for the visitors, regular wickets halted any real momentum, as no one was able to kick on from their promising starts.
Youngsters Tom Foster (35) and Nick Doubell (27) continued their impressive form to rebuild in the middle overs, while Ed Jenner (19), Jon Vokes (24) and Nayam Phagami (21) kept the scoreboard ticking over in the later stages.
Mike Doubell's brutal 7-ball 22 not out ensured Sparsholt set a defendable 210 before the break.
Momentum continued to swing in the second innings as Mike Haworth was virtually unplayable in a luckless opening spell, regularly beating the bat.
Jon Vokes' introduction in the 11th over brought about the initial breakthrough, before an impressive spell of 4-31 from Mike Doubell reduced the hosts to 130-5 after Henry Farrant's useful 43.
A few missed chances and some impressive strokeplay from Richard Locke saw the momentum swing again, as Locke struck 13 boundaries in his 75 not out to ensure the hosts reached 216 with 5 wickets in hand.
The loss leaves Sparsholt in 8th place in the league, as they welcome 7th placed Hambledon this Saturday in a vital clash at Locks Lane.
