Ex-england Test player rips out Portsmouth’s top order
A former England international starred in a Hampshire League game against Portsmouth 2nds for the second year running.
Last June, Rikki Clarke thrashed 16 fours and seven sixes en route to making 163 for Shrewton in a County Division 1 fixture at St Helens.
Portsmouth still triumphed, though, thanks to 117 from James Christian.
Making his first appearance of the 2024 HL campaign, Clarke this time starred with the ball.
He claimed the first six wickets to fall – including the wickets of Richard Warner and Max Payne in successive balls -.as Portsmouth lurched to 50-6 after winning the toss.
Any thoughts Clarke could mop up all 10 wickets ended when Ethan Randell was caught by Matt Jackson off the bowling of Dan Pownall.
Clarke, who played two Tests for England and 20 ODIS in the early 2000s, finished with 6-22 off nine overs as Portsmouth were bundled out for 92.
Shrewton wasted absolutely no time in knocking off the runs, racing to an eight-wicket win in less than six overs!
Will Harries thumped an unbeaten 57 off only 18 balls with seven fours and four sixes as Portsmouth were hurried to a third successive defeat.
He took a particular liking to
Akshay Patel, whose 2.5 overs cost 53 runs.
His last over went for
26 - 21 of which came off Harries’ bat and the other five being wides.
There were some fine individual displays as Kerala defeated Old Basing by 69 runs at Rugby Camp. First, Namith Pattampurath and Baiju Kurian helped the hosts post 249-6 off 45 overs.
Pattampurath, in his first season with Kerala, hit four fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 80 off 103 balls.
Kurian’s scoring rate was even quicker, belting six fours and three sixes in racing to
73 off 53 balls.
6 Wickets for Rikki Clarke
26 Runs taken off an Akshay Patel over
Then Bobino Rajan took career best bowling figures as Old Basing were bowled out fo 180. Rajan, the seventh and final Kerala bowler used, bagged 5-33 while
Jubin Karippai’s 3-47 included the wicket of top scorer Ryan Murray (59 off 40 balls with five sixes and three fours).