Southern Premier Lge Div 1.

Totton & Eling (250-8 dec.) beat Hursley Park (80 all out).

Hursley Park managed to finally get on to a cricket field after three weeks of rain and only one ball being bowled. Despite a League best bowling performance from skipper Jimmy Taylor comprehensive defeat followed.

At Southern Gardens, Totton batted first on a pitch which not surprisingly was helpful to bowlers. Farhan Bashir claimed his first wicket for the club in his first over bowling Damian Shirazi.

Jimmy Taylor replaced him after a five over opening spell and was immediately among the wickets as the home side were reduced to 100 for 5 with Taylor taking three wickets.

A recovery was mounted by David Banks and Jonathan Norris but at lunch Hursley were the happier at 137 for 5. However the partnership blossomed and had added 89 before Norris was caught for 44. Banks reached his half-century and a late flourish from Rob Franklin saw the home side declare on Banks' dismissal for 66 at 250; Jimmy Taylor returning 5-40.

The Hursley batting folded against the home attack led by Dan Goldstraw and James Hibberd and in no time were floundering at 20 for 5. Jimmy Taylor and Chris McDermott stemmed the flow of wickets for a brief spell but once they were both removed at 51, Taylor for 21 and McDermott 11, the inevitable ending was swift with Hibberd 3-12 and Goldstraw 5-42 taking the honours in a comprehensive victory for the champions.

Hursley Park II (163 all out) lost to Totton & Eling II (177 all out) Another disappointing reverse for the Hursley side but they only had themselves to blame as once again the opposition was allowed to escape.

A tenth wicket stand of 59 boosted the Totton total to 178 when they should have been dismissed for under 100. Dropped catches proved costly as Nigel Bungay (49) profited early on.

Terry Rawlins (44) and Dave Adams ensured the visitors a competitive total with Tom Burns the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 25. Charlie Prendergast (38) and Chris Wheeler (33) set the foundation for victory but after they were dismissed the innings stuttered with no other batsman able to make a major contribution and were finally all out 14 runs short.

Hursley 3rd XI suffered a six wicket defeat on Saturday at Holybourne in HCL Regional Div 1 North.

Skipper Steve Jones (94) and Steve Cockram (56) shared a third wicket partnership of 105 as Hursley were bowled out for a respectable 200.

But the bowlers were unable to back this up and contributed many of the 54 extras as the home side cantered home at 203 for 4. Dan George (3-35) was the most successful bowler.