Dons defeat Hartley Wintney

A fine all-round performance from Roscoe Thattil powered Hambledon to victory at Hartley Wintney in Southern Electric Premier League division one.

In search of their first win of the season, the Ridge raiders travelled to Hartley with some car shuffling, dubious undertaking and hard-shoulder riding but they arrived with licences intact.

The picturesque ground boasted a picture-perfect wicket, hard with a tinge of green, overcast skies and the promise of rain Dan Hewitt won the toss and had a bowl.

With two rain delays upon the umpires call for play, third time lucky and the skipper took the first over which invariably lengthened with wides and no-balls.

But he managed to take the scalp of Hartley Wintney's opener in the first over.

Hoopy Rupert Hetherington showed much more discipline in his one for 26 from 10 overs, meanwhile the skipper picked up their overseas with a surprising straight one.

James Atkinson came on and picked up a wicket early on in the fielding restrictions.

Will Mann then followed Hetherington and picked up a quick two-wicket haul before Thattil followed Atkinson and bowled some wonderful variations as the hosts slumped to 162 all out.

Out came the Blues to bat and looked in a nervous state at 22 for two - but a solid and free-flowing James Scutt got to 59 and passed the 4,000 career league runs landmark.

His demise brought together Thattil and skipper Hewitt. They required 82 off 28 overs and despite a wobbly first six deliveries as the skipper missed shots and middled leaves, Thattil took the reins and blitzed his way to 60 not out and the Dons to a comprehensive seven-wicket win.