Green tracks bring batting challenges

10:22am Saturday 19th July 2008

The glorious setting of Cowdray Park, Midhurst was enough to inspire Hurstbourne Priors to record their first away win of the season.

Put into bat, they were soon in trouble but Carter (30) and Hamson (21) steadied proceedings. When both were removed, summer signing Andy Golding showed his class and hit a superb 60 in difficult conditions. He hit eight fours and galloped between the wickets to make good use of the large boundaries. Priors rallied to 183-7 off 42 which looked 40 runs short of par.

Priors made a good start when the fiery Toby Trinder bowled Atkins in the fifth over. A number of Midhurst batsman got starts but failed to go on. Hamilton-Fox was run out by Tom Trinder for eight, Cady bowled Gough and Golding snaffled Muir for 11. Lynch (38) and Pearce (43) looked on course to chase down 183 before both were removed to outfield catches. Priors closed in for victory with Carter removing Green in the last over, with the home side 18 runs shy of the total giving Priors 23 points.

A Typical summer's day saw Amport II faced with another damp, slow, low pitch against OT and Romsey III.

An eclectic XI including three U13, one U15, one U18 and two over 60s were not surprised when the stand in skipper elected to field. With new ball bowling options again being limited the opening spell fell to the pace of Adam Earley and the vulpine skills of Clive Hacker.

The standard was set by a smart catch in the first over by Jason Sargeant, the first wicket of Adam Earley's career best 4-14 in eight overs. The vice like grip of the Amport bowling and fielding performance was shown in the bowling returns of 2-7 in ten overs from Hacker, and the skipper managed a maiden in his spell of six overs 1-7.

The youth of Amport accounted for Hughes going for 13 to a smart caught and bowled by Sam Woodward and the innings was wrapped up for 62 by Robert Randall's first league wickets in his 2-2 Facing another low target for victory on a pitch of dubious quality, Jim Gilmour hit 33 not out and Hacker 20 and Amport reached their target for the loss of two wickets.

Another dismal batting display was at the heart of Leckford's fifth defeat in a row, this time to United Services II.

Leckford inserted the opposition who reached 68-3 before partnerships of 58 and 70 saw them to a respectable 196-4. Leckford's limited bowling attack stuck to their guns and the wickets were shared between Chris White (3-30) and Nigel Marriott (1-54). The fragile batting line-up set about the run chase, but after a second wicket partnership of 42 it went down hill with only skipper Dean Robertson (29) providing any real resistance as they were eventually dismissed for 95.

After a deluge of rain all week, the Broughton pitch was damp but playable for the match with Leckford II.

Skipper Tony Lydeard had no hesitation in batting on a slow, low pitch and Sevki Isin (12) supported Ian Bussey (45) well and Joe Lydeard (21) continued his recent good form. Simon Henderson scored 39 in quick time until visiting captain Stuart Hicks (3-14) removed him then Stuart Williams (15) smashed two huge sixes. Jerry Brown (17no) nearly ran out of partners but Broughton ended on 187-9.

Leckford II lost a wicket in the first over to Lydeard (2-22) and he and Brin Brezinskis (1-18) bowled well again and restricted them to 40 in their 16 overs. Malley batted well for his 27 but Stuart Williams (3-18) and Nick Mabey (3-43) reduced the middle order in quick fashion. Ewens (15) provided some resistance and good support to Malley and towards the end Pearce (13) did a good job. Neil Simpson and Hicks put on 39 but Leckford ended up 77 short but earned batting points through the efforts of the tail.

Collingbourne travelled to Heytesbury and Sutton Veny and were asked to bat on a wet pitch and outfield.

The batsmen made the best of the conditions and finished with 100 all out from their full 45 overs, Tom Grant the pick with 43. In reply Heytesbury and Sutton Veny had just as hard a time but it was all in vain as the home side knocked off the last of the runs in the 38th over for the loss of seven wickets. Pace bowler Tom Pike's 12 overs earned him three wickets, ably supported by Jim Nicholson (two wickets) Tom Grant (one) and Charlie Knight (one).

Longparish II, rooted at the foot of the table, travelled to high flying Steeple Langford looking for their first win of the season.

Steeple Langford batted first on a damp pitch and Longparish picked up wickets steadily, left arm speedster Adam Seidman taking 4-23 backed up by Nick Dawney 2-34 and Matt Paice 2-23 as Steeple Langford were dismissed for 150. With conditions improving Longparish II started well, Adam Lister and John Young putting on 62 before Young fell mid innings with the score on 68. Lister batted on patiently to finish unbeaten on 40, Longparish passing the total with five overs to spare after some big hitting by Justin Jackman who finished on 37no.

IN THE preliminary round of the Barfoot Cup, Longparish were asked to bat on a damp green track.

Alex Coetzee, Michael Taplin, Brad Aldridge and William Jackman all made sizeable contributions in difficult conditions, Brad Hooker top scoring with 23 as they posted 108 from 20 overs. Ropley reached 69-7 from their 20 overs, Charles Sherwood and Ollie Coetzee taking two wickets.

St Mary Bourne emerged from their mid-season slump with a terrific performance in this top of the table clash against Amesbury.

Amesbury surprisingly elected to bat on a damp pitch and were made to struggle throughout. An excellent 12 over opening spell from Giles Mallion (4-21) supported by the luckless Adam Parsonage (2-33) left the visitors innings in tatters and they were grateful for numerous dropped catches allowing them to reach 106-9. Claiming a wicket in the first over of St Mary Bourne's reply created false hope for Amesbury as Marc Von Guionneau with a quickfire 38 helped to put on 61 for the second wicket. Jeff Chislett's stoic 32 not out and Parsonage (34no) then went on to conclude the eight wicket victory.

Other matches where reports not received Hants County Div One Andover II v Portsmouth II aban County Div Three Longparish v Sarisbury II (off) County Div Four N Mottisfont v Whitchurch (off) South Newton 71 all out lost to Over Wallop 109 all out Reg Div One N Ramsdell v Linkenholt (off) Winterslow 178-5 bt Upper Clatford 93 all out Reg Div 2 NW Andover IV v Red & Hale II (off) Penton v Sth Wilts IV (off) Wherwell 134 all out lost to Burghclere 137-3 Reg Div 3 NE Whitchurch II v Liphook IV (off) Reg Div 3 NW Ampfield v Andover V (off) Wilton 177-6 beat Penton II 171 Reg Div 4 NW Thruxton v Red & Hale III (off)

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