Match report 19/5
Village K.O Hants Q/F
Hambledon vs Sparsholt

The Hambledon rep side were on the road again today travelling far and wide, many not to the intended destination on time but plenty of sights to behold on the way.

A slight delayed start but having won the toss Sparsholt fancied a bat on what looked like a nice deck.

Captain Hewitt opened the bowling from the pavilion end and Will "what a man" Mann from the other.

A tough start for the dons as batsman looked to be getting in the groove and playing some nice shots, mixed with a few suspect ones.

At last a break through from the Bean; trapping one of the openers LBW. Will then followed suit with a nut to dismiss the number 3 bat that cut in and hit the top of off stump.

The Dons were starting to roll; a bowling change by the skipper led to the newly crowned king of the swing Chapman replacing the skipper from the pavilion end.

No one could foresee the torment about to be unleashed; the ball moving from the start of his spell Chapman opened up with a double wicket maiden. 

Another change from the other end saw Will replaced by Atko keen to get in on the action.

Atko picks up a wicket with a snick behind to Nick Scutt.

It was then time for the Chapman show to really get going. Ball after ball causing the batsman trouble, wickets tumbling like a Jenga tower. Nick Scutt taking another two catches with the gloves totalling 3 for the day; a sterling job. Chapman eventually running out of batsman to send back finished with figures of 7 wickets for 4 runs from 5.3 overs. Now 11wkts-7runs from two games.

Tea ladies caught off guard led to a quick turnaround and both sides back to the arena to do battle. 

The Dons requiring 60 for victory, a simple task it was not to be!

The dons found themselves 20-5 at one stage as JCW, Chairman Mark, Jimbo Scutt, Nick Scutt and James Atkinson all fell cheaply! The pressure was growing in the small run chase; up stepped Paul "the posh" Vickers and Captain Beano, cool heads saw them steer clear of the iceberg and cruise on full speed ahead, no further wickets falling with Bean registering 20 odd not out and the Posh 9 not out.

Game over by 4pm the dons had tea and reflecting on a crazy game of cricket; soaked up the win.

Dan Hewitt believes overseas player Roscoe Thattil holds the key to Hambledon’s success this term.

The Sri Lankan batsman joined the Ridge Meadow outfit for the season and will be in their side for the short trip to Burridge in Southern Electric Premier League division one tomorrow.

The 20-year-old plays first-class cricket for Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club just outside Colombo in his homeland and has one century and six half-centuries to his name in 16 matches.

With the ball, his off-breaks have also picked up 16 first-class wickets.

But the Hambledon skipper knows Thattil faces a tough baptism in adapting to English conditions on his first visit to these shores, although his maiden half-century of the season last week would suggest he is learning quickly.

Hewitt said: ‘Roscoe looks a brilliant player.

‘He got 60 not out last week in the win over Hartley Wintney and looks like one of the best players I have seen in the league.

‘Initially, he has struggled a bit with the conditions when it is swinging and seaming because he is used to batting at number five in Sri Lanka.

‘By the eighth over in Sri Lanka, the spinners are on at both ends so it’s totally different to what he is used to.

‘But he looks plenty good enough to adapt.

‘And it would make a huge difference to us if he has a big season.’

The Dons are without several first-teamers this week with James Scutt, James Atkinson, Jack Lavous, Cameron Prentice and Ian Turner all ruled out.

New recruits from United Services Reggie and James Marshall are not yet available.

But Paul Vickers, Will Bond, Kyle Shinn come in and a debut is handed to Spencer Le-Clercq, a talented spinning all-rounder.

Hewitt (pictured when 16) said: ‘We’re missing a few but it’s a good chance for the young lads.

‘When I started playing first-team cricket, I was batting at number 10 and not doing anything.

‘But I am going to get these kids a game, get them involved and learning what first-team cricket is all about. We’ve got to trust them and see what they can do.

‘Ultimately, it’s a good chance to throw these guys in at the deep end and see if they can swim.

‘The regular first-team players have also got to step up and give the youngsters something to emulate.’

Burridge name an unchanged side and Hewitt expects a test.

He said: ‘Burridge look a good side but it’s a tough league.

‘Two sides have got to go down and I’m pretty confident we won’t be one of them but we have got to pull our finger out to make sure it doesn’t happen.’

BURRIDGE: Rick Ankers, Richard Kenway, Shu Chowdhury, Derek Kenway, Scott Mills, Geoff Dods, Paul Ancell, Greg Thew, Jamie Rood, Suji Wickramasinghe, Nick McMurray.

HAMBLEDON: Dan Hewitt, Joe Collings-Wells, Paul Vickers, Rob Atkins, Roscoe Thattil, Will Bond, Nick Scutt, Spencer Le-Clercq, Will Mann, Kyle Shinn, Rupert Hetherington

 The "Dons" went run-crazy on Sunday in the 1st round of the National Village K.O at Godshill in the New Forest..

The Ridge was a hive of  junior activity but there was little sign of  the senior dons side.

Slowly but surely the  aroma  of bbq dave’s full English breakfast wafted across the  surrounding hills drawing in the players.

Stomachs  filled and cars bulging  with kit the journey started, captain Dan leading his convoy of players into the depths of the New Forest. 

A lack of sat nav caused minor panic, but Atko soon ended that by producing his 2008 birthday atlas………..minor problem that Godshill wasn’t marked……..! 

Eventually the ground was found-picturesque to say the very least.

A square any groundsman would be proud of nestled in the centre of a lightening fast minefield of an outfield. 

A fielding warm up was best forgotten- thankfully unseen by the home team who had yet to arrive.

The toss was won and Hewitt decided that batting was  a fine idea.

Few would have dared to dream about what followed…….

A partnership of 180 was put on by the opening pair of Joe Collings-Wells and James Scutt –Joe first out for  102.

Scutt  was joined by his captain who was already in excellent form from the previous days league game.

A partnership of 93 for the next wicket rattled the score to 273 with dan Hewitt registering 43 and Jimbo a powerful 120.

A couple of quick wickets  brought Atkinson and Cam Prentice together and a power hitting contest proceeded –Prentice a product of gym work and bread consumption delivering raw power and Atkinson timing and  effortless clean striking.

Balls rained down into the gorse, scattering picnics

Shortly batsmen 7 and 8 were at the crease for a final flourish.

Vickers, aware that a chance of a bowl was seriously in doubt, even with the score approaching 350 , decided he best earn the tea and cakes that he so desperately craves of a weekend, despatching the final over for 28.

A final tally of 376 for 6  put the dons in a healthy position. 

An excellent tea was had by players and spectators alike—the Victoria sponge of particular note! 

Dons took to the field, aware that the job was half done and that nothing but a continuation of the excellent standards would be accepted by the skipper.

Rupert opened up, bowling a spell of 7 overs 2 for 12 that suitably impressed his young lady on the sidelines.

Rory Prentice, gracing us with his presence after a long winter over which he has become the premium fast bowler in his family charged in from the other end and bowled a lively spell claiming 4 for 17.

 Will Mann and Rhidian called upon to put the game to bed.

 Enter the king of the swingers……….Rhidian , formerly known as the static traveller produced a spell of swing bowling few would have laid a bat on- 4 wickets for 3 runs. 

Nick Scutt coped admirably behind the stumps considering the ridiculous movement chapman was achieving!