Fareham tailenders impress to end Kerala’s unbeaten run
Solent Rangers 2nds enjoy a handy advantage at the top of Hampshire League Division 5 South East following their sixth win in as many completed matches.
Rangers continued their superb run with a 57-run victory at home to Portsmouth Community on a day when promotion rivals Kerala 3rds suffered their first defeat.
Ajith Unnikrishnan top scored with 68 and Anish Babu made 40 as Rangers were all out for 194 after opting to bat. They then restricted Community to 1378 (Mike Bristow).
Kerala slipped out of the two promotion places after losing a match they looked like winning by two wickets at Fareham & Crofton 3rds.
Kerala appeared on course for a sixth win of the summer after seven of Fareham's top eight batters fell for single-digit scores as they chased a target of 156.
Yet No 9 Simon Gough (24 not out) and No 10 Samuel Harrington (27 not out) had other ideas, and took Fareham home with a ball to spare. Fareham's David Eades earlier claimed 4-41.
Clanfield have moved above Kerala into second spot after their scheduled opponents, bottom-ofthe-table Havant 3rds, conceded.
Fourth-placed Hayling Island 2nds made it five wins in six completed matches with a sevenwicket success at Hambledon 3rds.
Gary Martin made 73 not out off just 61 balls as
Hayling comfortably reached a target of 142. Glenn Kavanagh and Rob Cells earlier bagged three wickets each.
Bob Hurt batted throughout, finishing on 46 not out, to seal a six-wicket triumph for sixthplaced Waterlooville 3rds at Purbrook 2nds, who totalled 137-9.
Kerala 4ths are just behind Ville following a 63run home win against Gosport Borough 3rds, who were restricted to 97-8 chasing a target of 161. Ben Brett took 4-22 for Boro.
US Portsmouth gained their fourth success, winning by 58 runs at home to Rowner thanks in no small part to 72 from Vaughan Wilcox. Portsmouth 4ths are second from bottom after defeat at a Tom Horwoodinspired Petersfield 2nds. Portsmouth’s 140-8 (Simon Jones 55, Horwood 5-26) was overtaken by the hosts’ 142-3 (Ned Kelly 65 not out, Horwood 58 not out).
73
Gary Martin’s score for Hayling off 61 balls
1
Fareham beat Kerala with just one ball to spare