Bond happy to swap centuries for Dons wins

Bond made a winning start to life as skipper of the Ridge Meadow club, striking a classy 85 as the Dons overcame Bashley II on opening day last weekend.

But the man who replaced Rob Atkins at the helm insists he would be happy to trade big runs for victories as he praised the batting firepower in his side.

Bond said: ‘I was very pleased with how we started the season last weekend and it was nice to contribute, personally, and get some runs.

‘It’s nice to take responsibility once you get the captaincy, so hopefully I can carry on doing that.

‘I would definitely like a century but the most important thing is that the team wins – if we do that then I don’t really mind if I don’t score any!

‘Fortunately we have a lot of good batsmen in the top order so I am sure I won’t have to do it every week – someone else will step up.’

Teenager Spencer Leclercq (41) impressed in the middle order last time out and is a player Bond has high hopes for – much like opening batsman George Marshall.

He added: ‘Spencer is coming along really well.

‘He is pretty young and it was his only his first season in the first team last year.

‘He is very consistent so hopefully he carries that on all year in the middle order, which would be invaluable.

‘Elsewhere, George has a lot of firepower at the top of the order – it doesn’t always come off but when it does it is pretty devastating for the other team.

‘Hopefully that will come off at Fawley – it is usually a good batting deck over there.’

South African all-rounder Shane Nkomo is expected to return this weekend as he embarks on a second season with the Dons.

In division three, Gosport Borough will hope to bounce back from a five-wicket loss at St Cross Symondians in division three when they welcome Lymington II – who beat Waterlooville on the opening day – to Privett Park.

Max Goddard’s Ville side will hope home advantage pays dividends as they host Havant II at Rowlands Avenue.