Hambledon run machine Matt De Villiers hits another Southern Premier League century – Waterlooville in dramatic tie after last-ball run out

The 21-year-old South African hit 123 as Hambledon extended their winning start to the Division 2 season to eight games against Bashley 2nds at Ridge Meadow.

It was his second SPL ton in eight days, following on from his 168 against Hartley Wintney - Hambledon’s highest SPL individual innings of the 21st century.

De Villiers now boasts a stunning record of 694 league runs at 115.67 from eight innings - 248 more than the next highest scorer across the four tiers of the SPL, Havant’s Chris Stone.

His league innings so far in 2022 are of Bradmanesque proportions - 89, 67, 63 not out, 100, 53, 31 not out, 168 and 123.

He needs just 306 more runs from a possible 10 innings - we are not even halfway through the SPL campaign yet - to become only the fifth batter in Southern League or Southern Premier League history to score 1,000 runs in a single season.

Former Purbrook and Havant batter Will Prozesky (1,076 runs, 2005), Neal Parlane (BAT, 1,074, 2003), Erasmus Hendriske (Trojans,1,025, 2003) and Hampshire legend Robin Smith (Trojans, 1,015, 1982) are the only four men to have reached four figures since the Southern League was formed in 1969.

Dons skipper Spencer Le Clercq has made a habit of batting first on winning the toss this season, and he did so again against Bashley.

In the absence of second top runscorer Dan McGovern, Le Clercq promoted himself to open. And, after George Marshall (10) had departed early, he added 112 for the second wicket with De Villiers before falling for 54.

De Villiers powered on to his latest century, eventually dismissed after hitting 16 fours and a six off 94 balls.

With Bashley conceding 35 wides, Hambledon posted a daunting 293 all out total - the final wicket falling off the last ball of the 50th over.

While De Villiers could one day play first class cricket, his side boast a player who has already been there and done that.

And it was Ian Turner - the 53-year-old former Hampshire spinner - who removed the Bashley top three en route to 3-34 in his third league game of 2022.

Shahryar Khan (4-20) impressed after Turner had done the initial damage as the New Forest club - asked to chase a rain revised target of 227 in 35 overs - were bowled out for 192 (James Trodd 38, extras 37).

Hambledon - one of only two clubs in the four tiers of the SPL still boasting a 100 per cent record, alongside Portsmouth & Southsea - are 16 points clear of OTs & Romsey at the top of the table.

Had they not had 20 points deducted for a close season admin error, their lead would be seriously impressive at this stage of the campaign.

Next up for the table-toppers is a short trip to Waterlooville, who remain third after a dramatic tie with Fawley.

Ville began the last over - bowled by Nicholas Doubell - needing eight to overhaul the hosts’ 166 all out total.

Skipper Archie Reynolds and Sam Robinson took singles off the first three balls before the latter struck a boundary off the fourth to level the scores.

Needing just a run off two deliveries, Robinson failed to score off the penultimate ball and was run out by Ben Smith attempting a match-winning single off the last.

Robinson (28) had helped Reynolds give Ville a chance of victory with a 61-run stand for the seventh wicket.

Reynolds, who opened, ended unbeaten on 64 - his second successive SPL half-century and his third of the league campaign (after compiling three in a row in pre-season friendlies).

Tim Jackson (4-41) and Sam Hillman (3-16) had earlier helped to bowl Fawley out fairly cheaply after they had been inserted.

Doubell (48) rescued his side, batting at No 6 and top scoring after Ville had reduced them to 73-5 at Lapstone Park.