An unbeaten 72-run knock from Josh Buckingham let Hook and Newnham Basics cruise to victory at home against Rowledge on Saturday.
The Southern Premier League Division 2 win keeps Hook nipping at the heels of league leaders Ventnor.
Captain Ben Thane won the toss and elected to bowl, with Gary Clapham and Tristen McDonald opening at the crease for the visitors.
A blossoming early partnership was ended early on when Matt Love caught McDonald, 10, from a Shane Brewer pitch. Clapham, 26, followed after being caught by Neil Marsh from Aniket Divecha’s bowl. But Rowledge’s Chris Yates and Daniel Lloyd were on top form and ramped up the scoreline. Both batsmen broke the half century mark. Yates went after eagle-eyed wicket keeper Ross Hunter stumped him on 70.
Rowledge suffered a middle order collapse with none of the remaining batsmen breaking double figures. Divecha took two wickets, and Chandimal Ratnayake, and Thane claimed a wicket each. Yates stayed at the crease, ending the day with a 78 not out. Rowledge’s final total was 222 for eight wickets, with 19 extra’s.
The slow wicket meant that Hook’s batsmen had to be on top form to challenge the strong total posted by the visitors.
A shaky start meant opener Matt Love was bowled by Richard Forbes for four, and Thane followed shortly after, again bowled by Forbes for 17. Marsh and Hunter steadied the rocking ship and pushed the scoreline to 92.
Marsh was stumped for 27, and Ratnayake was bowled for a duck by Rob Smith. But Buckingham and Hunter put on a strong 73 run partnership. Hunter was bowled one run short of a half century.
Poor bowling from the visitors pushed up the total as the middle order faltered at the crease.
Nicholas Wilcock was caught for two, and Richard Wilcock followed shortly after on seven. Brewer joined Buckingham at the stumps and posted seven runs easing Hook to victory. Hook were gifted 40 runs from extras, including 30 wides, ending the day on 225 for seven after 46 overs.
On Saturday, Hook take on Hambledon at home.
