Hambledon up to third

Hambledon brushed aside Hook & Newnham Basics to rise to third spot in Southern Electric Premier League division one.

Once again skipper Dan Hewitt lost the toss and was asked to field but on the back of four successful chases, the Ridge raiders were confident of the task ahead.

Hook got off to a solid start until the dangerous Ben Thane was removed caught behind off Hewitt.

Soon enough 12 overs were up and the spin flotilla was called into action from sheltering in the bay around the corner.

HMS Roscoe Thattil and HMS James Atkinson were called into action first with both looking dangerous from the outset - picking up wickets at regular intervals.

Off came Thattil and on came HMS Ian Turner with age against him but wind behind him.

He dialled in second ball with an uncustomary long hop first up and the flotilla were into action picking up regular wickets and getting chopped and changed with cannonballs were coming in from all angles.

On came Will Mann and claimed himself the achievement of the worse two-wicket hail ever seen in the league.

He was unlucky not to get a third, as well, with Rob 'Dying Seal' Atkins collapsing diving forward to shell a catch.

Soon enough the dons had missiled Hook out for 151 with Ross Hunter delivering a critical 62.

With the score set and the wicket looking difficult to score on, the Blues knew they had to get their heads down.

But soon enough they were two down after six overs with just three runs barely scratching the surface of what was beginning to look like a monumental 152 required.

Thattil and Joe Collings-Wells, who is now becoming known for his cricketing abilities rather than personality deficiencies, put on a quintessentially large partnership as both breezed passed their 50s.

Thattil fell 25 runs short of the finish line, leaving the skipper with a beautiful opportunity to throw together a mediocre 10 not out while Collings-Wells finished 76 not out.

The Dons won by a massive seven wickets, taking them to third in the league ahead of a trip to New Milton next Saturday and a massive National Village Knockout county final against Hursley Park at Ridge Meadow on Sunday (1pm).