Heyes slams Sparsholt 'indiscipline'

9:59am Thursday 7th August 2008

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Sparsholt skipper Andy Heyes blamed his lower-order batsmen for letting neighbours Tichborne Park snatch a two-run win at the Norman Edwards Ground.

At 157-4, Sparsholt appeared well placed to overhaul Tichborne's 199-4, but lost their last six wickets for 30 runs.

"It was just indisciplined batting - too many guys going for big shots instead of rotating the strike and working the ball around," he fumed.

The defeat has left Sparsholt near the basement danger zone.

John Cook carried his bat for 40 overs for an unbeaten 62 and saw off the threat of James Schofield (2-16) after Tichborne had suffered consecutive blows at 39.

Tom Allam (28) and Paul Primmer, with a slightly more aggressive 48, took Park on to 199-4.

With evergreen Dave Waters (66) - a batsman almost impossible to set fields to - underpinning their reply, Sparsholt looked probable winners during the run chase. Tim Simmonite hit 34.

Cook grabbed the prize wicket of Waters off the first ball of the last over with Sparsholt 197 all out, three runs short.

A season's best 79no by Shayne Freemantle saw Fair Oak to a challenging five-wicket victory target against United Services, who slumped to a seventh successive defeat at Lapstone Park.

US got away to a flier through Andy Galliers but were pegged back by Ben Powis (2-35) and Freemantle (2-28). At 83-6, a complete collapse was on the cards, but teenager Lewis Russell (59), added 44 with Greg Hill (13) and 47 with Australia-bound Guy Lewis to give US 188-9 (James Featherstone 3-27)).

Oaks lost wickets to Andy Lilley (2-25) and the game was in the balance at 105-5 (Sturman 25).

But Freemantle (79 off 97 balls) found allies in Rhys Oxley (32 in 39 balls before falling to Lewis 2-41) and Ally Francis, who hit the winning runs with six overs to spare.

For more cricket don't miss this week's Hampshire Chronicle.