Hampshire League – other regional divisions

HYDE 2nds retained their place at the top of Regional Division 3 West when they beat Verwood 2nds by 10 runs in a low-scoring encounter at Potterne Park.

After Hyde’s skipper Seth Loader (10) had departed, Rob Holbrook (24) and Roger Tuddenham (17) made steady progress but it was an unbeaten 49 from Mike Thomas that took them to 127 when they were dismissed in the 41st over with Simon Jordan (4-32), Paul Webster (2-17) and Jack Driscoll (2-26) doing the damage.

With two overs lost to rain, Verwood were set a reduced target of 124 off 40 overs but they were always chasing as the accurate Hyde attack, supported by tight fielding, kept them in check.

Openers Steve Maycock (17) and George Durrans (14) were followed by Ed Hungerford (22) and Paul Webster (14) but nobody was able to build an innings and, with wickets falling to Alex Kang (4-28, all LBW) and Will Roe (2-26), along with two runs-outs, the home side finished their 40 overs on 114-8.

Ellingham 3rds travelled to Wilton where they found the home side’s batsmen in fine form and, in a rain-curtailed match, they lost by 41 runs.

After losing an early wicket, Rob Powell (135) and Nick Hillier (57) shared in a second-wicket stand of 165 as the home side amassed 269, Joe Shergold making 22.

Ellingham made a valiant attempt but were always behind the clock so that when the game was washed out at drinks after 22 overs, their 100-1 was well below the recalculated target of 141.

Ellingham’s main wicket takers were teenager Tom Penycate (4-54) and Colin Bagshot (3-39). They lost new skipper Tom Fincham (15) but Mike Dodd (45 no) and Tim Musselwhite (24 no) got them into a challenging position when the rain came.

In Regional Division 2 West, the wet conditions at Alderholt produced 16 wickets but the home side won by four wickets after reducing Parley 3rds to 77 all out in 33 overs.

The Westwoods, Will (5-12) and Bob (3-16), along with Matt Puttock (2-15), caused the visitors’ downfall and then John Patterson (23) and Puttock (22) enabled Alderholt’s victory in the 17th over.

Top scorers in Ringwood’s 171-7 were Dave Butcher (40), Adrian Watson (25) and Matt Hammond (22) and although Butcher claimed 3-15, Darwin (60) set up Christchurch’s two-wicket victory at Hurn Bridge with three overs to spare.