Due to lack of interest/losing, the match reports have been few and far between in recent times. Brief recap, Liphook's tea was disappointing, Hook's was the best away tea in the league so far, exceptional!
Ian Turner used his seniority to arrive at the ground just in time for the toss, decided to bat and bowled a single ball in his jeans before putting his feet up. As senior player moments go this was the best of the season. The ball was doing a fair amount early on and Humphrey nicked off for 12. Atkins and Collings Wells rebuilt, with CW in particularly ropey form. He departed for an ugly 31 and Marshall followed. Pongolo and Atkins then put on an important partnership, Atkins looking in great form, cutting well and occasionally shifting up the gears so much he hit the ball in the air! Atkins was dismissed for 70, bat before wicket, to leave the dons 152-4. Hewitt was run out and then Pongolo started to accelerate, with the dons easy over 200 with another 50 from Nono, before falling for another attempted scoop. Some lusty blows from Ian Turner saw the visitors to 224-9 at the close.
Tea was advertised at £55 in the changing rooms and the dons were expecting big. The cups of tea were good, and the sweet selection was good, with Mr Kipling representing in the New Forest. However, the savoury was a touch underwhelming. Still, it did a job, and the clubhouse/seating system was exceptional. 6.5/10
The dons were fired up sensing an unlikely victory and started very well, Hewitt and Hetherington very accurate. The opposition were only 1 down when Nono came into the attack, and he ran through their upper and middle order, taking four wickets with unstoppable bowling. Turner chipped in with two in two and suddenly the dons had the previously unbeaten leaders 60-7. The match seemed in the bag however the 9th wicket partnership had other ideas. Both swinging hard there was a shift in momentum, with the number 8 registering a 25 ball 50 as, not for the first time this season, the dons wilted under pressure from the opposition. Rupert removed the number 9 however the hitting continued. Finally, the in batsman offered up a chance off Turner, and Dom Humphrey dropped an absolute sitter! He continued hitting however Marshall dismissed him for a brilliant 80, Humphrey making amends. The final pair put together a very good partnership to take it to the last over, with Hewitt, Pongolo and Marshall bowling the last three overs for 10 runs. Despite beating the league leaders the dons were slightly disappointed with how close it got, however a great win nevertheless!