Amport v Basingstoke and NH III.

Amport celebrated delivery of new playing and training kit with a very convincing win over Basingstoke and NH III.

Gregory J Smith Transport and Nicholas Howard Recruitment sponsored the new playing shirts and warm up tops and will no doubt be delighted to have helped inspired an eight wicket victory.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Basingstoke III were looking for a solid start but Dean Woodhouse was quickly among the wickets in his first three overs. With Rory Chetwyn-Talbot (seven overs for 14 runs) making it impossible to score from the other end Woodhouse picked up three vital wickets, putting the visitors in a position they would struggle to get out of at 55-3.

When the returning Ben Parkyn hit with his eighth ball, the Basingstoke innings was really on the slide. The inform Leighton Bone returned 3-21 and Ian Langdown also picked up two wickets, including a well taken caught and bowled to close the innings on 121 all out.

Rob Skeates and Ben Parkyn got the innings off to a steady start and even losing Skeates for 25 and Parkyn for 21 didn't interrupt Amport’s progress. Langdown(38 no) and Ant Gillard (30 no) took it to 123-2 from 27 as the batters relaxed and found the boundary with increasing ease.

Amport ran out easy and convincing winners, taking them to third in the table and looking forward to a tough game on Saturday against sixth placed Cadnam.

 

Ampfield and NB II v Amport II.
A encouraging 11 man team effort saw Amport II secure maximum points and take top spot in Regional 3.

Skipper Darren Goacher elected  to bat on a hard pitch which looked full of runs and in scorching heat Dan Cartridge and Martin Randall set off at pace to match the temperature and both found the boundary at will and it was a surprise to see Cartridge drag on for a brisk 20 that was composed of five boundaries.

The returning Robert Randall and father Martin ensured that the fast start was not wasted until Randall junior was undone by the ball for 22.

Martyn Startup and Martin Randall were soon parted as a visible tiring Randall was caught in the covers for an attractive 45 that included seven fours.

Peter van der Westhuisen (17) and young Brandon Smith then played with great maturity and freedom and was in full control and they raised 69 for the fifth wicket before Smith fell for 31.

Despite the loss of Startup for a well complied 48, Fern marshalled the tail to such an extent that when he was dismissed for 32 Amport had reached a season high total of 253-9 after their 42 overs were eventually completed at 5.20.

Amport needed a disciplined bowling and fielding performance and they all produced Ampfield II were 50-4 in the 15th over. A long frustrating stand for the fifth wicket progressed the score to 91 before  an outstanding catch in the deep by Robert Randall off the bowling of Darren Goacher  heralded the beginning of the end, as Goacher began to weave his magic spell on the lower order batsmen to finish with fine figures of 4-22. Sam Goacher also claimed a first wicket of the season (1-19), and it was left to demon finishing bowler Martin Randall(1-7) to wrap the innings up with Ampfield 134 all out and Amport 24 points to the good.