Chris Elward came out of retirement to celebrate his Ellingham debut with an undefeated century against Fareham & Crofton – 15 years after he last picked up a cricket bat in anger!

The 51-year old Arnewood PE teacher hit an unbeaten 103 as the high flying New Forest side clung on to beat Fareham by three runs in a County Division 1 thriller at their windswept Picket Post ground.

Elward’s century helped Ellingham reach 265-9 – a total Fareham looked like getting when Chris Davey clouted the first ball of the final over for six, leaving the visitors four runs to win off five balls, which they failed to do, closing at 262-5.

Elward is no stranger to scoring runs – having made almost 4,500 of them as a top drawer opening batsman for Bournemouth in the 1990s.

“I only turned out for Ellingham as a favour, because some of their lads had gone to the Isle of Wight Festival and left them short,” Elward explained.

“It was the first time I’d played competitively since 1999 but, having dusted off the kit, quite enjoyed it – apart from the gale force wind that swept across the ground from start to finish.

“It’s a bit exposed at Ellingham!”

Elward watched Ellingham openers Jamie McPherson (345) and Stuart Layton (23) put 60 on the board before he came to the crease.

“It was all a bit strange being out in the middle again after all those years, but I took my time and once I middled a few I felt pretty good,” he smiled.

Pretty good indeed: a six and ten fours later, Elward had completed his first century in 15 years – at the first time of asking!

“I remember I had a great season in 1999, scoring three centuries and topping the old Southern League batting averages.

“Those were the days,” he laughed.

Elward wasn’t so sure he enjoyed fielding so much.

“The ball rockets across the Ellingham outfield, so I decided to hide out of the way at third-man – but I didn’t succeed !” he added.

Fareham gave chase from the start with Ed White (66) and Thomas Kent (65) sharing a century stand and later Luke Gould (70) cracking shots to all parts.

Chris Davey (28) almost won it in the end for Fareham, who finished three runs short at 262-5.

Ellingham remain hot on Waterlooville’s heels at the top of CD1 – the unbeaten leaders racking up a massive 346-5 against Midhurst at Rowlands Avenue.

South African left-hander Byron Haycock helped himself to a chanceless 152 and shared a huge stand with Alex Lamont, who cracked 91 off 70 balls.

Midhurst were dismissed for 147, Jon Hudson taking a hat-trick.

Locks Heath scraped over the line by one wicket, chasing Ryde’s 235-9, but George Hatt (90) and Ben Woodhouse (81) battered St Cross Symondians II into submission with a 182-run opening stand for Ventnor at Steephill.

Richard Locke hit 129 as Portchester rattled up 253-5 before bowling Old Basing out for 164.

County Division 2 top dogs Compton & Chandler’s Ford and Liphook & Ripsley II both lost.

CCF went down to fast rising New Milton II, while Bedhampton nailed Liphook.