Kiwi Matt Brown got Fawley’s British Gas Southern Premier Division 3 challenge off to a winning start with a superb bat and ball performance against promoted Purbrook at Holbury.

The 22-year old all-rounder from Christchurch, top scored with 72 and then took 4-42 as Fawley successfully defended 208-8 to beat last season’s Hampshire League runners-up by 20 runs, writes Mike Vimpany.

Brown found support from Andy Parratt (36) and James Nason (33) before Fawley fell away from a promising 164-3.

Purbrook’s reply faltered around Sean Figgins, who made an unbeaten 82 before the visitors rallied from 97-7 to come within 20 runs of the target. They were dismissed for 188.

Fair Oak paid the penalty for dropped catches as Phil Morris hit an undefeated 96 to guide weakened Bashley (Rydal) II to a four-wicket win.

Teenager Will Hughes (80) and Ed Kemp (58) top scored in Oak’s 204-7 – a score Bashley chased down with six overs to spare.

Missed several times, Morris struck a 16-boundary 96 not out which, with late support from Patrick Lewis (24), got Bashley home.

All five Bashley teams won at the weekend – despite seven players being unavailable in the first and second sides.

Hampshire Under-17 batsman Harry Gadd toasted a maiden SPL ton, scoring 122 (two sixes and 18 fours) as Havant II rattled up an imposing 280-6 (Andrew Galliers 55) against County 1 winners Alton II at the Jubilee Ground.

Alton were dismissed for a disappointing 152, left-armer Graham Burns taking 4-24.

Hursley Park, who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, were unable to defend 198 when Basingstoke & North Hants II visited The Quarters.

Matt Pile (44), Matt Branford (37) and Oli Green, with a handy 40 late on, saw the Park to 198, but Chris Oliver’s unbeaten proved a match winner for the Bountymen, with an over to go.

When Gosport Borough moved to 113 without loss they fancied chasing down Waterlooville’s 233-7 (Tim Jackson 50), but despite Tom Larner’s 93 they finished with 219-7 and lost by 14 runs.