Two points separate the top four clubs who have each won their opening two Southern Premier Division 1 matches.
Sarisbury Athletic (44), Portsmouth (43), Hook & Newnham Basics and recently relegated Totton & Eling (42 points each) have emerged unscathed from the initial two rounds of matches.
One of those unbeaten tags will go when Portsmouth visit Southern Gardens on Saturday before hosting Sarisbury Athletic in a real heavyweight joust on Southsea seafront over the bank holiday weekend.
Sarisbury collected their second maximum 22-point haul with a 97-run win at Old Tauntonians & Romsey, who frittered their wickets away as they yielded to a double dose of left-arm spin.
Sarisbury's 226-8 owed much to Hook & Newnham Basics raised Jack Robson (73) who held things together after spin pair Matt Bampton and Joe Vaughan held the visitors to 101-4, Aussie Kaiden Cookson (30) making an impact.
Robson's 55-run stand with Josh Williams (28) proved significant, as did Archie Pascoe's quick-fire 30
OTs sank to 54-6 before Vaughan's 44 gave their reply some substance, but the twin left-arm spin threat of Cookson (3-27) and Sam Hill (3-26) prevailed has the hosts were dismissed for 129.
Sarisbury Athletic (44), Portsmouth (43), Hook & Newnham Basics and recently relegated Totton & Eling (42 points each) have emerged unscathed from the initial two rounds of matches.
One of those unbeaten tags will go when Portsmouth visit Southern Gardens on Saturday before hosting Sarisbury Athletic in a real heavyweight joust on Southsea seafront over the bank holiday weekend.
Sarisbury collected their second maximum 22-point haul with a 97-run win at Old Tauntonians & Romsey, who frittered their wickets away as they yielded to a double dose of left-arm spin.
Sarisbury's 226-8 owed much to Hook & Newnham Basics raised Jack Robson (73) who held things together after spin pair Matt Bampton and Joe Vaughan held the visitors to 101-4, Aussie Kaiden Cookson (30) making an impact.
Robson's 55-run stand with Josh Williams (28) proved significant, as did Archie Pascoe's quick-fire 30
OTs sank to 54-6 before Vaughan's 44 gave their reply some substance, but the twin left-arm spin threat of Cookson (3-27) and Sam Hill (3-26) prevailed has the hosts were dismissed for 129.
Tom Lewis [left] produced his best Southern Premier League figures as Portsmouth dismissed Andover for 136 before completing a comprehensive nine-wicket victory at London Road.
The former South Wilts offie cut into Andover's top order with an impressive 5-17, with only Glyn Treagus (37) and Matt Hooper (30) able to make an impression.
Carlin Joy (60) and James Christian (47) greedily polished off the target to give Portsmouth a second win and inflict a second consecutive defeat on the Lions, who were runners-up to Basingstoke & North Hants in SPL1 last summer. Roy Honeybone picture.
The former South Wilts offie cut into Andover's top order with an impressive 5-17, with only Glyn Treagus (37) and Matt Hooper (30) able to make an impression.
Carlin Joy (60) and James Christian (47) greedily polished off the target to give Portsmouth a second win and inflict a second consecutive defeat on the Lions, who were runners-up to Basingstoke & North Hants in SPL1 last summer. Roy Honeybone picture.
Charlie Neville carried his bat through the entire innings as Hook & Newnham Basics chased down a Rowledge total of 196-7 to win their Southern Premier League Division 1 match by three wickets with 23 balls to spare.
He hit only two fours in an undefeated 58 off 127 deliveries, but was relieved of any pressure when Rupert Armstrong (45) and Jack Murrell (27 not out) each hit the ball out of the ground three times.
Earlier, Murrell and Lewis Watts set about hitting an excellent length in helpful School Road seam bowling conditions but, after Max Martin had fallen early on, Jonty Sebborn (47) and and Ollie Baker (34) added a gutsy 71 for the second wicket.
Just as the pair fought through the tricky conditions, the spin of Anik Divecha (4-29) did not allow the Rowledge score to gain momentum. Divecha blitzed through the middle order and set Rowledge back as they looked to be positive. A determined Rowledge didn't give up and through Olly Ryman (40 not out) and Australian Justin Felsch (38) ensured the hosts posted a competitive 196-7.
Rowledge got off to a great start when Hugh Croft took a smart catch off Olly Ryman, and then Max Martin had player/coach Usman Ijaz caught behind by Ben Wish to leave Hook 42-2. Aussie spinner Justin Flesch settled into a teasing spell, and got just reward removing Matt Buckingham.
The aggressive Armstrong (45) partnered Neville in a stand of 83 for the fourth wicket and Hook were in the driving seat at 150-3 after the second drinks break.
Martin (5-26) rattled Hook with four wickets in ten balls, including Armstrong and Josh Buckingham to celebrate a maiden SPL five-wicket haul.
Hook still needed 40 with three wickets left when Murrell smacked 29 off 19 balls and get the visitors across the line.
Sony Reynolds smacked a quick-fire 64 but at 84-7 his salvo came too late to save Waterlooville from a 27-run defeat by Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
He struck two sixes and six boundaries as Ville closed 163 all out (Archie Reynolds 27) in response to Totton's 200, which was largely based around opener Joe Baker (45) and down the order knocks by Josh May (27), Brighton Mugochi (22) and Rajat Parmar (20). Archie Reynolds took 3-45.
Calmore Sports worked hard to get Loperwood Park fit for Ventnor's visit, but fought a losing battle against the ground's high water table.
He hit only two fours in an undefeated 58 off 127 deliveries, but was relieved of any pressure when Rupert Armstrong (45) and Jack Murrell (27 not out) each hit the ball out of the ground three times.
Earlier, Murrell and Lewis Watts set about hitting an excellent length in helpful School Road seam bowling conditions but, after Max Martin had fallen early on, Jonty Sebborn (47) and and Ollie Baker (34) added a gutsy 71 for the second wicket.
Just as the pair fought through the tricky conditions, the spin of Anik Divecha (4-29) did not allow the Rowledge score to gain momentum. Divecha blitzed through the middle order and set Rowledge back as they looked to be positive. A determined Rowledge didn't give up and through Olly Ryman (40 not out) and Australian Justin Felsch (38) ensured the hosts posted a competitive 196-7.
Rowledge got off to a great start when Hugh Croft took a smart catch off Olly Ryman, and then Max Martin had player/coach Usman Ijaz caught behind by Ben Wish to leave Hook 42-2. Aussie spinner Justin Flesch settled into a teasing spell, and got just reward removing Matt Buckingham.
The aggressive Armstrong (45) partnered Neville in a stand of 83 for the fourth wicket and Hook were in the driving seat at 150-3 after the second drinks break.
Martin (5-26) rattled Hook with four wickets in ten balls, including Armstrong and Josh Buckingham to celebrate a maiden SPL five-wicket haul.
Hook still needed 40 with three wickets left when Murrell smacked 29 off 19 balls and get the visitors across the line.
Sony Reynolds smacked a quick-fire 64 but at 84-7 his salvo came too late to save Waterlooville from a 27-run defeat by Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
He struck two sixes and six boundaries as Ville closed 163 all out (Archie Reynolds 27) in response to Totton's 200, which was largely based around opener Joe Baker (45) and down the order knocks by Josh May (27), Brighton Mugochi (22) and Rajat Parmar (20). Archie Reynolds took 3-45.
Calmore Sports worked hard to get Loperwood Park fit for Ventnor's visit, but fought a losing battle against the ground's high water table.