Dons crowned County Champions

Hambledon were crowned county champions in the Persimmon Village Cup with an emphatic victory over Sparsholt.

James Scutt (37), James Atkinson (35) and Ollie Mills (23) all made starts before getting out with Sparsholt's Doubell (3-28) the pick of the Sparsholt bowlers.

Greg Hill (51) then top-scored for the Dons as they recovered from 117-5 to post an impressive 197-6 in 40 overs at Ridge Meadow.

An early sprinkling of wides saw Sparsholt reach 47 before they lost their first wicket.

Then Dan Hewitt's miserly spell of 0-16 off nine overs combined with Rhidian Chapman's 3-31 pegged their Winchester opponents back to 87-4 off 25 overs.

That left the stage for evergreen all-rounder Mark Le Clercq to take four wickets for just five runs in two overs with his deceptive left arm spin.

Teenager Will Mann also took two wickets late on as Sparsholt succumbed to 126 all out in 32 overs to give Hambledon a comfortable 71 run victory.

The Dons now travel east next Sunday June 26 to take on the Bidborough the Kent champions in the first national round of the competition.