VERWOOD just managed to scrape home by one wicket when they entertained Dinton in County Division 4 West at Potterne Park.

And it was two 15-year-old first team debutants Jack Driscoll and Rob Howarth who made an impression.

The visitors were forced to play with ten men as one of their players had to drop out at short notice due to a family illness. Although they batted with one short, another player arrived during the second innings and fielded as substitute.

Dinton looked set for a good score at 135-4 mainly through Lance Harwood (46) and Andy O’Neill (57) but then the wheels came off and they lost five wickets for 27 runs with John Driscoll (3-23), Charlie Gajic (2-22) and youngster Jack Driscoll (1-13) doing the damage.

Verwood went off at quick pace through openers Jordan Bishop (33) and Charlie Gajic (11) and then Luke Hancock (47) kept the score moving alongside Rob Howarth (26) as several chances went down.

At 101-3 they looked to be cruising but with wickets falling to Rich Pearce (3-31), Matt Fowler (2-21) and Harwood (2-27), they managed to level the scores at 162-9 before Oliver Arnold (15 no) held his nerve and hit a four to win the match with five balls to spare.

Solid top order batting enabled Burley to beat Southampton Travellers by six wickets at home after their opponents had posted a challenging total.

The visitors posted 205-7 with Prath Salaskar (39 no) and Shiv Chowdhury (38) the main scorers with John Blundell (2-45) and James Edworthy (2-26) the pick of the bowlers.

Burley got off to a flyer with skipper Alec Moorman hitting 28 in an opening stand of 42 in six overs. Kieron Hudson (41) and Jon Beck (33) added 58 for the second but it was Edworthy (37) and Noman Nazir (46 no) who took the game away from the Travellers with a fourth wicket stand of 80 as Burley won in the 40th over.

Ellingham 2nds were outplayed when they visited Farley as the home side amassed 280-4 and then dismissed their opponents for 147.

Ellingham’s first team did better in County Division 1 at Picket Post but they still lost to Fareham and Crofton by five wickets.

Charlie Pearson (37), Jim Edwards (33), Shaun Leadbetter (32), Ali Redfern (27) and Dave Doust (20) all made good starts but were unable to manufacture a large innings as Ellingham were dismissed for 203 in the 48th over, Ollie Southon taking 4-27.

The visitors were made to work hard for their runs and it took them until the 48th over to reach their target thanks mainly to Michael Kissane (70 no) with Henry Shutler (2-21) the pick of the bowlers.

Mark Penny was in fine form with the bat and set up Woodgreen’s eight-wicket victory when they entertained Hambledon 2nds in County Division 3 South.

Opener Jack Lavours led the Hambledon batting and was supported by Phil Rennie (58) and Ollie Willoughby (37) as they posted 212-6 with Richard White taking 2-39.

Woodgreen’s openers, Penny (82 no) and Laurence Harding (45), went off like a rocket in a stand of 98 in 13 overs. Jon Nash (34) added 63 with Penny and then Stuart Nash (19 no) ensured victory in under 36 overs.