Harding and Holder help fire Purbrook to derby win

Captain Martin Lee hit 40 and John Moller struck 47 to get the home side off to a flyer, putting on 121 runs for the first wicket off 21 overs. After Lee departed, however, Purbrook suffered a mini collapse and slumped to 132 for five. It was left to Clark Harding and James Holder, who hit 48 not out, to rebuild the innings with a 50-run partnership. In the end, Purbrook recovered to set a target of 244 for seven. ‘We were cruising along at the start,’ said Lee. ‘Then I managed to get myself out with a lazy drive straight to the fielder at point. ‘We lost four wickets for very little after that. ‘Luckily for us James Holder batted really well coming in at number seven. ‘We felt quite comfortable about defending our total and we soon made a breakthrough. ‘Though our bowling and fielding was a bit flat we still kept taking wickets every few overs and Fareham were never really in it.’ Overseas player Ben Michel and Aaron Dean both took three wickets apiece as Fareham fell well short. United Services Portsmouth maintained their good form with a 23-run win over Bishop’s Waltham at Burnaby Road. Services made a bad start after opting to bat first, losing Tom May without a run on the board. The home side recovered as Matt Rodgers (87) and Jonathan Parker (38) helped them reach 216 all out. Having frustrated Bishop’s Waltham with the bat Parker then took five wickets for 33 runs off 9.2 overs to win the game. Burridge II (188) were beaten by seven wickets at Ropley (192 for three). Bedhampton continued their slide in division two with a six-wicket defeat at Easton & Martyr Worthy. It hasn’t been a good few weeks for the team. After winning their opening two games they have slipped to five successive defeats. Portchester endured a thumping 144 run loss against Old Basing at Cams Hill School. Hayling Island were bowled out for 121 runs in their five-wicket reverse at Hythe & Dibden.