Match report – Hambledon III vs. US Portsmouth III
The Hambledon lads turned up for the match today, at Clarence Pier with a great view of the fun fair, but nothing was more of a thrill ride than the match itself. Overwhelmed by the contrast in temperature after last week’s game in the bitter cold, skipper Martyn Shinn strode to the middle for the all important toss. “Heads” was the call, and a good one at that! Hambledon were fielding.
The opening spell of bowling by Kyle Shinn and Matt Williams had US pinned down at 29-3 after 10 overs. The brothers Spencer and Lewis LeClercq bowled in the middle period of the innings; both deciding pace was the best option on the artificial, each picking up a wicket. George Harding and the opening bowlers ended the innings, leaving US all out for 259 – A handsome total and a daunting task for the Hambledon batsmen.
After tea, Matt Radford and Martyn Shinn strode to the middle, hoping to put a dent in the total and keep the team up with the run rate. Matt started aggressively, smashing three to the boundary in the first over, but couldn’t add anymore to the score after being outdone by the opening bowler, getting out bowled. Spencer then walked to the crease to join Martyn, and a massive partnership of 164 between the pair set the match up for the dons, with Spencer smashing the ball to all parts, hitting 100, from only 91 balls. Martyn supported Spencer and was the back bone of the innings, scoring 59. However, both were dismissed in quite quick succession, meaning someone else would need to step up to the plate in order to see the dons home. Ed Thistlethwayte walked in at 4 and was untroubled by the bowling he faced, smashing 55 from only 34 balls, seeing Hambledon over the line at 261-7, for their second win of the season.
An unbelievable chase and maximum points made everyone’s day, but no one more so than 15 year old Spencer hitting his maiden century – The first of many no doubt.