Last ball drama for Thruxton

12:57pm Thursday 21st August 2008

Thruxton got their season started again after three weeks of postponements when they travelled to Michelmersh, all be it under the threat of rain.

Asked to bat first a depleted Thruxton started brightly but soon lost their first wicket at 18. A good 36 run partnership between Andy McGoo and Paul Harvey steadied the ship but when Harvey went and McGoo fell for a solid 43 they were in a spot of trouble. Dan Wiltshire and Matt Knight put some respectability into the score before A Clarke claimed a hat-trick. However the final total of 126 gave Thruxton something to bowl at.

Superb bowling by Dean Cresswell (1-19) and Sean Yates (1-24) saw Michelmersh at 44-2 after 24 overs. Then fine fielding kept the game in the balance right up to the final over. Wickets tumbled in the last seven overs with Paul Harvey the chief and Michelmersh needed six off the last over with two wickets in hand. The final batsman was run out on the last ball with Michelmersh two runs short of victory, Harvey finishing with 5-37. Credit must go to both captains in their decision to postpone tea and continue the game.

The two week break for weather showed on Saturday as Upper Clatford were shot out for a meagre 73.

Winning the toss and bowling first, the local side performed well as Christian Nicel 2-27, Jamie Stratton 2-18, Andy Cattle 2-33 and Justin Nicel 3-36 restricted Ashford Hill to what should have been a below par 122-9. In reply, only Glen Vesey with 36 offered anything with the bat as Clatford were embarrassingly dismissed for 73, M Roberts taking 6-9 including a hat-trick.

On a day more suited to the football season, local rivals Hurstbourne Priors and Linkenholt battled it out as they both needed points to improve their mid-table standings.

Priors' skipper Mark Hamson won his first toss of the season and surprised his team mates by batting first in overcast conditions. His decision proved to be a good one with Richard Carter (26) and Paul Collins (20) putting on 65 for the first wicket. Collins showed his pedigree at the higher level against the accurate Linkenholt bowling.

When both were removed in quick succession, Tom Trinder (22) took up the challenge against the tricky bowling of Holdaway. He lofted him into the orchard in his first over and continued to play some excellent shots before being bowled by Clough. Steve Cady played a typical cavalier 37 as Priors reached 155-8 in their 42 overs which looked short of a good total.

Linkenholt's response was positive and Priors needed to stop Willis and Clough early in their innings as boundaries came quickly. Cady (2-28) removed Willis and Holdaway in quick succession then Lishman (2-24) produced a decent spell removing Tony Robb. Hamson (4-10) removed Clough (46) and with Toby Trinder removing Robinson with a snorter, Priors claimed victory and 22 points.

LONGPARISH scraped a narrow one wicket win against a youthful Petersfield.

Batting first on a damp surface the visitors made 140-6, with Barry Blackmore taking 3-31, Chris Clarke 2-35, Stuart Tognerelli 1-36 backed by Mike Wakefield's 12 overs for 20.

The Longparish reply was far from convincing, losing the top four for only four runs including skipper Paul Blackmore, who made 21. Man of the match Barry Blackmore made 52 off 53 deliveries in 54 minutes, including nine fours and along with Sean Gallagher (12) added 62 for the fifth wicket. Clarke (11 no) held his nerve with Longparish at 135-9 as still requiring six runs to win, stalwart Neil Bonathon and Clarke saw them over the line.

A tough tie for Longparish II at promotion chasing Amesbury.

Amesbury won the toss and with thick cloud cover, and rain imminent asked Longparish to bat. Openers Justin Jackman and William de Cani put on 30 then a crocked and creaking Warren Bonathon pushed the score to 37 before Ross Stewart bludgeoned 69 from 60 balls in a 98 run partnership with Jackman. Mathew Jackman (14) put on 37 with his dad then Jackman senior was dismissed for a superb 66. Longparish's tail wagged as they finished on a creditable 202.

After a heavy shower at tea Amesbury set about chasing the formidable target. Left arm speedster Adam Seidman (3-30) took two wickets then de Cani bowled Milnes for 54. Amesbury were dismissed 32 runs short which brings a slim chance of avoiding relegation.

White Hart Hotel sponsored Whitchurch made it three consecutive wins with victory over bottom side Farley.

Church found the going difficult with Oliver Burt (23) the only batsman to look comfortable. With the visitors struggling at 102-7, Jim Hayward (14) and Si Ralph (26) shared an important partnership of 33 then Damo Hack joined Ralph. Last man Mike Brennan joined Hack who hit three sixes and six fours, in 51 off just 26 balls, as Whitchurch reached 201.

Farley scored 25 off the first four overs before Finn Dodd (1-41) and Eddie Treble (4-39) turned the game Church's way and it was left to Hayward to seal the victory.

Whitchurch II made it two wins out of two with victories over St Cross V and Burghclere II and sealed their place in NE3 for next season.

Against St Cross, they restricted the home side to 146, Si Ralph taking 5-20, and skipper Damo Hack 3-48. In reply a partnership of 77 between Steve Dunesby (35) and Hartley Paine (36) put the visitors on top, and the victory was sealed by Ralph and Andy Wallbutton.

Against Burghclere, Whitchurch posted a respectable 169-6, Kev Brown top scoring with 41, and then proceeded to dismiss the visitors for 110. Badger Rampton picked up 3-42, and there were wickets for Hartley Paine (2-38) and Kev Brown (2-5). Alex Dunesby took 1-3 from his two overs.

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