Last-wicket pair keep their cool in nailbiting Hampshire District League encounter

Hayling's Rob Cordell batting against Emsworth. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Last man Webb walked out to the middle to join No 9 Offord after Emsworth’s ninth wicket had fallen at 106.

Their side still needed 32 for victory in the County E division encounter.

But Webb (20 no) and Offord (18 no) duly knocked off the runs to give Emsworth their opening win of 2020 after rain had washed out most of the opening round of games the previous weekend.

Ant Norris bowling for Emsworth in their Hampshire District League victory over Hayling Island. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Ant Norris had earlier taken three top order wickets as Hayling captain Mike Hallett couldn’t find anyone to stick around with him.

Hallett, opening the innings, top scored with 40. But Norris dismissed opener M Marshall (0), Gary Martin (5) and Greg Chaplin (0) as Hayling lurched to 34-4.

No 3 Ryan Atkins didn’t last long either, caught by Lee Gray - one of three catches for the fielder - off the bowling of Webb for a single.

No 10 Dave Hayman was Hayling’s second top scorer with 19, while Norris returned figures of 8-3-21-3 and Lewis Roberts took 2-28.

Emsworth's Lewis Roberts tries to stop the ball with his feet during the game against Hayling Island. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

In reply, Emsworth dipped to 72-5 when Barrie James (24) was dismissed by Chaplin. And it got even worse when the same bowler accounted for Callum Headon and Norris - the latter stumped by Stuart Parsons off his third delivery.

It was 99-8 when Callum Cells dismissed top scorer Lewis Roberts (27) and Hayling must have sensed victory when Rob Norris was bowled by Cells.

But Webb and Offord had the final say as Emsworth won with almost four overs to spare, leaving Hayling to rue sending down 20 wides.

Hayling's Dave Wayman plays and misses against Emsworth. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Mahendra Jish struck his first century for Hambledon in adult cricket as they hammered Bishop’s Waltham 3rds in Regional A of the Hampshire District Leagues.

He rescued the innings after top three Will Parvin (8), skipper Kevin Wingham (4) and Ed Moger (1) had all fallen cheaply.

Jish (111) gained fine support from wicket-keeper Lewis Le Clerq (72) as Hambledon went on to post a daunting 288-5.

Waltham contributed 38 extras, including 28 wides.

Emsworth bowler Dan Webb made a match-winning contribution against Hayling Island with the bat. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

In reply, wicket-keeper Tim Freemantle (43) provided the main resistance as Waltham crawled to 117-7 off their 40 overs.

Ben Harding and Wayne Norman both returned 1-16 off their eight-over spells while Moger (2-9) and Hamish Duncan (2-22) were top wicket-takers.

Skipper Matt Wheeler and James Curwood turned in fine all-round displays to help Portsmouth & Southsea 4ths defeat their Gosport Borough counterparts.

P & S overcame a dismal start to record an 18-run victory in Regional N of the Hampshire District Leagues.

Ephraim Royle (3-19) struck twice early on as P & S’s top three of Rob Whitworth (6), Neil Sansom (0) and Tom Wheeler (0) all failed.

Emsworth's socially distant wicket celebration against Hayling Island. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

No 6 Matt Wheeler started the recovery by top scoring with 39 off 25 balls before James Curwood (29) and Scott Curwood (20 no) hoisted P & S to 167 all out.

Matt Wheeler (3-18) and James Curwood (3-29) then did some damage with the ball as well as Gosport were restricted to 149-9 off their 40 overs.

Opening bowlers Ben Hallett (7-1-19-0) and Lenny Field (6-2-11-1) had ensured Gosport didn’t get off to a flying reply.

Opener Peter Taylor top scored with 48 but Abe Webb (20) was the next highest.