Borough keen to kick-start celebrations with a win

On Sunday Borough continue to mark their achievement with a T10 cricket festival and family fun day at the club.

From midday until 7pm there is a bar, barbecue, bouncy castle and music available – and everyone with a connection to the club, past and present, is welcome.

Before that, though, stand-in captain Lee Harrop is keen to see his side record their second win of the season against newly-promoted Fair Oak.

After losing their opening game to St Cross II, Gosport bounced back to get off the mark with a confident eight-wicket win over Lymington II.

Harrop was relieved to get that victory after a rusty performance in their season-opener.

‘Against St Cross we batted first and didn’t apply ourselves enough,’ he said.

‘It was massively disappointing because we allowed the game to drift away from us.

‘Against Lymington it was totally different and we more than made up for it.

‘Our batting line-up is very strong and we should be getting in the runs.’

Harrop himself led the way with an unbeaten 119 in a partnership of 130 with Charlie Pennecott.

The return of Alex Styles from Burridge has strengthened Borough’s batting even further.

He left Privett Park in 2009 and scored a lot of runs in his time in his new surroundings.

Borough, however, have managed to get him back and Harrop is convinced he will make a massive impact.

‘Alex has a lot of experience of playing in the premier division,’ said Harrop.

‘He bats with little fear and can be extremely explosive on occasions.

‘Add to that his ability in the field and the fact that he can also do a little with the ball makes him a more than useful member of the team.’

Harrop is also predicting it will be a big summer for Pennecott after his excellent start.

The 23-year-old has struggled to carve out a regular spot in the batting line-up over the past couple of years.

The stand-in skipper believes this could be the summer he finally establishes himself.

‘Charlie has started well and he looks a lot stronger,’ he added.

‘He is hitting some of his straight drives with so much power.

‘When you look down our side we bat right the way down the order.

‘That is why he has found it difficult to command a regular spot in the past.’

Harrop is predicting a successful season as some of the youngsters who have come through start to mature.

And he sees no reason why the team cannot push towards a top-four finish.

Borough will mss the experience of Simon Creal who is unavailable this weekend.

Gosport: Lee Harrop, Alex Styles, Charlie Pennecott, Craig Stares, Micheal Russell, John Adams, Greg Kitchin, Pete Robson, Sampath Prathapasinghe, Matt Johnson, Dale Patternotte, Conor Regan