SPARSHOLT 254 for 9 beat OT’s and Romsey 242 all out by 12 runs.

Dave Gough produced one of his best ever knocks for the first team coming to the crease with the score standing at a perilous fourteen for four (Jaden Derosa, Jon Sankey, Lewis Dunford and skipper Andy Worth all back in the pavilion). After two successive abandonments due to rain, the ‘trees’ entertained lowly OT’s and Romsey hoping to strengthen their league position, but OT’s pace bowler Steve Smith (3 for 38) had other ideas as he ripped into the top order. Gough joined under 15 batsman Tom Foster and the pair set about repairing the early damage. Foster looked particularly impressive as he outscored an unusually watchful Gough, who showed only a handful of his trademark drives early in his innings. The pair added 75 before Foster was bowled for 44, robbed of what would have been a well deserved half century, and his first at this level. Gough was joined by ex-skipper Tim Vokes, now looking back to his best, and the two long term friends took the score to 195 before Gough dragged one onto his stumps with 88 to his name, when he looked like scoring his first ever Southern league century, and an entry on the new honours board in the pavilion. Vokes (45) and Mike Haworth, who helped himself to an eye pleasing 31 ensured that the momentum was not lost, posting a season’s best total of 254 for 9 when the innings closed. For once, paceman Alex Dilley wasn’t able to make the early breakthrough, and in reply the visitors moved smoothly to 40 before Jon Vokes (2 for 24) broke through. OTs continued to score quickly with Augustus Flack (47) and Will Edwards (40) leading the way. Flack was dismissed as Tim Vokes galloped fully 30 yards round the boundary to take a superb running catch just inside the rope, but momentum was maintained as Ieuan Wathan struck a rapid 43 off 27 balls. Vokes also removed him, this time nicely pouched by brother Jon in the deep as he tried one big hit too many. OTs continued to make inroads against a Sparsholt bowling attack , but with Sparsholt getting a little nervous, Jon Sankey (yes that’s not a misprint, it was Jon Sankey) took a fine diving catch at square leg, and Adam Gough (who had not enjoyed the best of afternoons with the gloves!) took his victim count behind the stumps to fifteen for the season as sixteen year old Mike Haworth (5 for 33) completed an excellent day personally cleaning up the tail to see Sparsholt home by just 12 runs. (Mike Haworth name will therefore be added to the bowling honours board). Perhaps surprisingly after Sparsholt’s shaky start, just under 500 runs were scored in a fantastic afternoon’s cricket. The win moves the trees up to fourth place in the table - this week they have a seaside outing, taking on Portsmouth at the St Helen’s at Southsea, hoping to reverse the early season result where Portsmouth ran out victors in a low scoring game.

SPARSHOLT II 135 all out lost to LISS 252 for 4 by 117 runs

In the Hampshire league, top of the table Liss derailed Sparsholt promotion challenge with a 117 run victory, a defeat which sees Sparsholt drop to third in the table. Skipper David Coulthard won the toss and bowled but against a strong side struggled to get much out of a slow wicket. Andy Pryce made his usual economical start and chipped in with a couple of wickets, finishing with 2-24. The other bowlers - including 2-51 from young Nick Doubell - bowled well enough to mostly contain the batsmen but ultimately a fantastic unbeaten century from Liss skipper Pleace (139 n.o.) brought late acceleration and a total of 252-4 from 45 overs. Sparsholt's reply started well with George Potter (25) and new-boy Tom Wilson but soon subsided as successive batsmen were dismissed a little too easily. Only Simon Herridge (31) built any sort of innings and Sparsholt were all out for 135 inside 33 overs (Small 4-37) - a disappointing effort given the pitch and bowling. The second eleven will look to get back on the promotion trail with a rare home game this Saturday, against Hurstbourne Priors.

SPARSHOLT III 205 for 5 beat ST CROSS VI 204 for 3 by five wickets.

Better luck for the trees at Worthy Down where the third team saw off local rivals St Cross. Sparsholt fielded first and St Cross rattled up 204 for 3, led by half centuries from Henshall and Binks. Sparsholt’s only successful bowlers were Haslam and Proctor who each picked up a wicket. In reply, Sparsholt lost stand in skipper Martin Patterson and Arthur Cornforth early, but then Tim Lander (94 not out) and Will Proctor shared a century partnership turning the match in Sparsholt’s favour. Proctor went for a good 51, but after the loss of a couple more wickets, villager Lander and Greg Whiting (15 not out) reached the target with five wickets down to record a maximum points victory which keeps Sparsholt on course for promotion.

by Norman Gough ( in case anyone was under any doubt)