First win boosts Sparsholt morale

Sparsholt (236 all out) beat Calmore Sports (163 all out) by 73 runs

THERE was relief at the Norman Edwards Memorial Ground as Sparsholt picked up their first victory of the season - and in some style, too.

Calmore invited the hosts to have first use of the wicket, and their decision seemed to be justified when Olly Kelly and Ian Stuart departed with just 19 on the board,

Jerry Frith (41) and Andy Heyes (37) set about repairing the damage, and at the 25-over halfway point had reached a battling 81 for 2.

The tempo was picked up by firstly Tim Vokes (36) and then Carl Nicholls, whose 56 included four consecutive sixes off the penultimate over.

At the end of the innings Sparsholt were pleased to have racked up their highest score of the season to date.

After tea the Calmore batting was never comfortable against pace of Alec Taylor (3-47).

Two early wickets were followed by stubborn partnerships for the third and fourth wickets featuring Tom Pegler (43).

Sparsholt gradually put the brakes on, Frith again claiming the honours with the ball with 4 for 22, and Calmore were all out for 163.

"It was a much improved performance from a near full-strength side," said skipper Ian Stuart later.

"The fielding contrasted to the previous week's debacle when nine catches were dropped - including Pete Smith three times before he reached 20 - and he went on to 136 not out!"

In Hampshire County Division 4 Sparsholt II slipped to defeat against Hambledon II, who batted first in a match reduced by rain to 27 overs a side.

Although Hambledon skipper Richard Wat pulled a muscle in the first over, he went on to smash the Sparsholt attack to all parts of the Hambledon ground for 111 runs.

Mark de Mellow also hit a useful 31 as Hambledon closed on 189 for 3.

In reply Sparsholt lost wickets at regular intervals, despite a number of catches going down.

Ian Ellis (23) and Richard Edwards (19) made the highest scores for the visitors, but Mark de Mellow rounded off a good day by taking 4 for 22 for the home side in a match they dominated.

Sparsholt closed on a disappointing 112 for 8.

In Division 3 North East Sparsholt III won the toss and inserted Whitchurch II on a soft and wet wicket.

Whitchurch scored 134 all out off of 41.4 overs, Huw Evans taking 3 for 25 and Andy Trivett 2 for 30. Hayward scored 51 for Whitchurch.

In reply Sparsholt were never at the races. After both openers were out with the score on 0 they put a few partnerships together - but none were high enough or long enough.

Keith Whiting (26) and James Crawford (27) were the only batsmen to emerge with any credit.

Sparsholt were all out four runs short of the visitors' score, with plenty of overs left. Hayward, continuing his dream match, took 5 for 42 for the home side.