FAIR Oak soared to fifth in the Southern Premier Division 2 table with a comprehensive win at the Greenjackets Ground against basement dwellers St Cross Symondians II on Saturday. 

Deploying four spinners and three seamers, the Oaks attack was tight all afternoon. St Cross opener Tom Foyle made 56, but when he was bowled by left-arm twirler Lewis Goodyear, the hosts were 90 for 5 and in deep trouble. The efforts of Jack Nichols (25), Richard Wilson (15no) and Aaron Hockey (23no) gave the home side a smidgeon of hope as they took the 50-over total to 181 for 8. But Rhys Oxley (2 for 17), Goodyear (2 for 36), Sam Reed (2 for 43) and Monty McKenzie (1 for 29) completed a lockout by the visitors’ spinners – the eighth wicket was a run-out.

In response Fair Oak lost all of their top four to LBW decisions, but not before Tom Clark, who had played himself back to form last week in the 2nd XI, had made 49. McKenzie added 46. Oaks dipped from 135 for 2 to 138 for 5 with Nichols taking for 3 for 38 and Hockey 2 for 27, but the visitors had got themselves ahead of the asking rate. Ben Smith steered them to the win at 183 for 7 with 17 not out; there were still more than six overs in the bank.

Oaks return to home soil next Saturday with a tough assignment against Portsmouth & Southsea, who are currently second in the table.

Fair Oak II failed to hit the heights at home to St Cross Symondians III in Hampshire League Division 2 and went down to an eight-wicket defeat. St Cross opening bowler Hamish Croft (3 for 25) clean bowled the Oaks top three with his penetrating in-duckers, and wickets fell regularly throughout as the hosts were bowled out for 147. James Featherstone top scored with 28 and Kannan Manoj hit 21, but Gavin Buckle (3 for 22) and Sam Redhead (2 for 39) ensured a below-par total.

James Burridge then took control, the unobtrusive left-handed opener carrying his bat for 69 almost under the radar. Callum Lord had Matt Swann caught for 22, and Manoj bowled Kevin Neave for 19. But Scott Rimmer’s brisk 23 not out took the visitors to 151 for 2 with nearly nine overs still in hand.
Mitch le Tissier’s belligerent 69 (three sixes, eight fours) was the cornerstone of Fair Oak III’s total of 181 all out at home to Solent Rangers in Hampshire Division 4 South. Jamie Sparshott contributed 24, but Nysil Joy (3 for 41) and Ajith Unnikrishnan (3 for 7) gave the visitors the upper hand.

In response part-time bowler Shaun Buttle took three wickets for 33, but an opening stand of 98 between Dipin Varghese and Sarav Singh, who made 63, gave Rangers a big advantage. Giby George and Binish Varghese took the visitors to the win at 184 for 5 with plenty of overs in hand.