Double delight for U13s

Hambledon under-13s are celebrating double delight.

The young Dons triumphed at Gosport and at home to Steep.

A young under-13 team travelled to Gosport on Wednesday missing many of the senior players - but came away with a six-wicket victory.

Gosport won the toss and decided to bat. The hosts were soon in trouble with the early loss of an opening batsman but after that the Dons found wickets hard to come by.

However, the young Gosport side made slow progress - finishing on 84 for three, a total helped by 29 extras.

Tom Toogood returned the best figures with one for seven off four overs, plus a run out.

Tom Sherry provided the champagne moment of the game with a fantastic stop and throw from close in for the third wicket.

The young Dons started their reply well, with Henry Glanfield making his intentions clear with a brisk 30 not out.

The innings kept well above the run-rate despite the loss of wickets and the victory was sealed by the partnership between Thomas Coyle (10) and Archie Bennett (19 not out).

The Dons were home and dry with five overs to spare on 86 for four - and followed up with hot dogs and doughnuts.

A rain-threatened Sunday morning saw the under-13s take on Steep at the Ridge.

Following a night of rain the wicket was green and wet but was drying quickly with a strong wind.

The Dons won the toss and decided to bowl and once again they struck early to leave the visitors rocking at 11 for two off 4 overs.

Toogood and Glanfield took the early wickets, with the latter handing the gloves over to Sherry for the game.

Steep's Rory Hewitt and Jack Campbell started to develop their team's most ominous partnership but spinner Freddie Martin bowled the former behind his legs and Guy Mullins took out Campbell's middle stump.

There was little resistance in the middle order, with Archie Bennett taking a double-wicket maiden in the last over to leave Steep on 72 for eight at the end.

Toogood again finished with the best figures of two for nine off four overs.

In reply, the young Dons lost the early wicket of Glanfield but a measured partnership between Martin (32 not out) and Louis Matovu (24) saw the team close in on victory.

The innings finished on 74 for two, with more than seven overs in hand.

A well-earned match tea of warm sausage rolls and sausages, plus flapjacks and fridge cake went down well with both teams.

And to keep the supporters happy Pippa Sherry supplied an excellent sponge cake.