Penton v OT Romsey V.

Penton’s long awaited first home game of the year saw OT and Romsey V’s open the batting with Barney Hayes (12) and Dave Service (1).

Penton’s new opening bowler Kerry Charles (4-12 off seven overs) caught and bowled Hayes and in his next over bowled Service.

Max Costley was lbw Kerry and at 17-3 off ten overs, Penton had their hopes raised for another win, but Jack Salter (52) and Pat Menage (21) kept raising the score , despite the damp outfield conditions which slowed any potential bounaries.

Manage was run-out and Stuart Mason (15) was caught by Wayne Green off Paul Stanford and when Salter was caught by the quick reactions of Mark Hodgson off Steve Patrick with the score at 111-6 off 29 overs, quickly followed by Sam Costley out for a duck off Stanford’s bowling, Penton were hoping for a quick end to the innings.

Roji Aujla put on a quick 12 before Charles chalked up another wicket, and young Reece Mitchell-Lee pushed the score up to 144 all out off 37.5 overs.

Penton openers John Hunter (12) and Richard Jensen (15) were keeping up the required run rate, but Hunter was bowled by Jamie Beard in the eighth over, quickly followed by Green in the same over.

Jensen was bowled in the next over by Costley and Martin Patrick’s innings was also curtailed quickly. With the score at 32-4 off 12 overs, Penton were thankful for the steady batting of Stanford (19) and Charles (33) who were able to raise the score up to 92 before Charles was finally bowled by Costley.

With the damp outfield still still slowing the ball, and OT’s well placed fielders, the last five wickets fell quickly for Penton, and OT won by 41 runs with Penton all out at 103 in the 35th over.