Dons skipper eyes back-to-back wins

Dan Hewitt is eyeing back-to-back victories as he takes his Hambledon troops to Andover this weekend.

The Dons travel to London Road fresh from a five-wicket triumph over Paultons at Ridge Meadow last Saturday.

The victory meant Hewitt's side have recorded four wins - and four defeats - at the halfway stage of the Southern Electric Premier League division two campaign.

Now the skipper wants Hambledon to make the most of their momentum - something they have struggled to day all summer.

Hewitt (pictured) said: 'We had a good result last weekend against Paultons - putting the poor chase against Burridge behind us.

'It would have been good to do it a bit more convincingly but I'll take the win. We are now four and four at the halfway point and I am happy with that.

'We should have won a few of the losses but that's cricket. We haven't been pumped by any side and in all the games we have been in good positions to win.

'Perhaps we haven't been clinical enough in certain aspects of our game but it's definitely not through lack of effort.

'The lads have clubbed together and no-one who has played so far has let themself down.

'As a team we've failed to win back-to-back games, which is a bit disappointing, but there's still a long way to go and a lot of opportunities.'

Hambledon are currently seventh in the table, however, their points average is just 1.69 less than leaders Hook & Newnham Basics.

Hewitt is well aware a couple of back-to-back victories could easily fire the Dons into the top three.

'As predicted, the league is proving really tight with surprising results every weekend,' said the captain, who leads the division's bowling charts with 18 wickets at a cost of just 9.78 runs apiece.

'A couple of wins on the bounce and we could be in the top two, although, in all fairness, a couple of losses and you could be in trouble.'

Next up for Hambledon are Andover, who were relegated from division one at the end of last summer.

The Dons' former Lions batsman Rob Atkins, who has scored 242 runs this term at an average of 48.40, will miss the return to his old club.

However, Hewitt will hand a debut to pace bowler Will Marks and knows his side are more than capable of delivering a victory in north Hampshire.

'We got washed out against them first game of the season but judging by their results they seem to be a decent team, capable of beating some good sides,' said the all-rounder.

'We are without veteran Rob Atkins as he is mobility scooter racing at Thruxton for a stag do - pretty poor considering it's against his old side and all!

Rob has been the rock in the side this season, so he will be a loss, but it gives an opportunity to some of the younger guys to step up.

'In comes Will Marks - finally - for his debut. Will has got some pace about him and I think he could be a massive addition to the side.'

Hambledon: James Scutt, Joe Collings-Wells, Toby de Mellow, Dan Hewitt, James Atkinson, Paul Vickers, Nick Scutt, Cameron Prentice, Will Marks, Will Mann, Kyle Shinn