Locke key to Portsmouth win

Conor Regan, right, celebrates a wicket as he was the pick of the Gosport Borough attack against Fair Oak Picture: Mick Young

Opening batsman Locke (69) set the platform for his side’s 238 for nine in their 81-run win over Liphook & Ripsley at St Helens.

He was ably supported by Inderpal Nandra (41) in his final game before returning to Moseley, and a late flourish from Vikram Dawson (43).

In reply, Portsmouth exposed some brittle batting by the visitors and soon had them in trouble at 62 for five, with Ish Ahmed (two for 22) and Nandra (three for nine) taking vital wickets.

In the end the hosts cruised to victory with 15 overs remaining to consolidate top spot.

In division two, Hambledon slipped to their first defeat of the season in a six-wicket reverse at Sparsholt.

After George Marshall (28) and skipper Will Bond (25) gave them a solid 56-run opening partnership, the Dons collapsed to 113 all out in under 38 overs.

The home side easily cruised to victory in just over 27 overs.

James Scutt (58) maintained his great start to the season in helping Waterlooville to a 16-run division three win over Hursley Park at Rowlands Avenue.

Scutt and Tim Jackson (30) put on a first-wicket partnership of 93 runs as ’Ville were bowled out for 209 runs.

South African Henk Nel removed both the Hursley openers cheaply to put the home side on the front foot at the start of the visitors’ reply.

When Hursley looked like edging closer to their target, Sam Hillman (three for 40) kept Waterlooville in charge.

Gosport Borough’s hopes of starting their 50th anniversary celebrations with a win were dashed by Fair Oak, who sneaked to an eight-run victory.

Conor Regan was the pick of the Borough bowlers as Fair Oak were restricted to 210 for six.

Michael Ruffell (37) put Borough on track early on, before Sampath Prathapasingh (37 not out) and Regan (26 not out) just failed to drag Borough over the winning line.

Havant II slipped to a third successive defeat despite a superb innings from Andrew Galliers (123) in their three-wicket reverse at Basingstoke & North Hants.

Galliers hit 19 fours and two sixes as he and fellow opening batsman Simon Loat (49) put on 181 runs for the first wicket.

Their effort proved in vain as the hosts passed their target of 236 with two overs to spare.