NEITHER rain nor visitors Cadnam could prevent Fair Oak II from chalking up a much-needed Hampshire League Division 2 victory on Saturday afternoon. 

A drizzly shower just before the scheduled start time reduced the game to 41 overs per side, and shortly after play got under way further rain caused a thirty-minute interruption. 

Cadnam openers Hari Shankar Sah and John Newland gave their side an excellent start, but when Newland was LBW to Andy Mash for 36 at 85 for 1, the tables turned. Under ominous skies spinner Mash took 3 for 36 and seamers Kannan Manoj and Wilf Voaden took 2 for 18 and 2 for 23 respectively, and the Cadnam innings fell away. Sah went on to a fine 79, but none of the other visiting batsmen could reach double figures. Cadnam closed on 159 for 8, which given their good start will have been a disappointment.

With a reduced target of 141 to chase in 33 overs after a Duckworth-Lewis recalculation, Oaks soon got moving. Opener Ayinen Ramanan made a superb 45 and number 3 Phil Smith 32, although wickets fell swiftly after that. Sah, bowling several varieties of spin, completed a terrific match with 3 for 36. But some lusty blows from Kannan Manoj (22 off 20 balls) put Fair Oak ahead of the asking rate, and the calm heads of Jake Salmon (17no) and Nick Bass saw them home with five wickets and two-and-a-half overs to spare.

Heavy rain put an end to Fair Oak’s 1st XI match at promotion pace-setters Hambledon in Southern Premier Division after 18.5 overs. Oaks skipper Harry Reed was caught by Seb Rowland off Chris Restell for 6, and opening partner Henry Nicholls was bowled by Chris Pratt for 5 to leave the visitors in early trouble at 27 for 2. Joe McNeeney (15 not out) and James Todd (9 not out) were patiently rebuilding the innings at 59 for 2 when the storm came. 

Fair Oak III picked up a third consecutive win in Hampshire Division 4 South, squeaking home by two wickets at Ampfield & North Baddesley. Jagadeesh (40) and Chowdhury (43) were the main contributors for Ampfield, who were bowled out for 165 in the 43rd over. Toby Wolverson was the star for Oaks with 5 for 27, while Albert Voaden and Keir Smith each bagged a brace.

At the beginning of the Fair Oak innings Adam Trigwell (19) and Nick Dempsey (23) showed up well, but it was Charlie White who played the key role. The younger brother of first XI keeper Matt, White smacked 60 off 69 balls in mid-innings to keep the pot boiling. Behar took three wickets and Huffer two, but Nathan Lys chipped in with a useful 15 and Wolverson completed a satisfying afternoon with 21 not out to see Oaks over the line. It took them just 33.1 overs to reach a winning 169 for 8.