Toby’s career best helps Dons extend winning start to 2024
Toby Restell hit a career best score on his first appearance of 2024.
The teenager struck an unbeaten 78 as Hambledon 3rds maintained their winning start to the Hampshire League season against Portsmouth & Southsea 3rds.
The only side in Division 4 South to have won their opening three matches, Dons are second in the embryonic table on a points-per-game ratio from Ryde 2nds, who have won their only two matches and had the other rained off.
Bibek Dhakal’s unbeaten 67 helped P & S total 172-7 at Ridge Meadow, skipper Conor Saunders helping him add an unbroken 46 for the eighth wicket against Elliott Jenkins (2-26) and Joel Lewis (2-28).
Restell and Josh Baty (26 not out) guided Hambledon to a seven-wicket victory with an unbroken 106-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Habeeb Rahman and Rahul Rajedraprasad’s late order partnership paved the way for Challengers
Gosport’s victory over Calmore 3rds.
Both players hit 48 as they shared an 88-run stand for the seventh wicket, allowing Gosport to recover from 1026 to post 215.
Rahman then took 3-22 as Calmore were bowled out for 179, Paul Henry top scoring with 53 at No 8.
Rakesh Janardhanan hit an unbeaten half century as Kerala 2nds defeated Folland by five wickets. Set 212 to win, the opener’s 73 not out underpinned Kerala’s run chase. Janardhanan received fine support from skipper Pradheesh Panamchickal, who hit an unbeaten 40 in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 95.
Hari Korasseril took 4-48 as Folland recovered from 121-5 to post 211 all out. Openers Alex
Cox and George Parvin both hit half-centuries as Bedhampton Mariners overcame New Milton 2nds in Division 3 South. Set a target of 199, Cox belted seven fours and four sixes, reaching 64 (off 51 balls) out of an opening stand of 86 with his skipper before he was dismissed.
Parvin, 10 not out at the time of Cox’s departure, added 78 for the third wicket with Stuart Wainwright (39 not out) before falling for 62 with just five runs required for victory.
Toby Restell’s career best score for Hambledon