In an exciting match at The Quarters, Hursley Park gained a 12 run victory against local rivals Sparsholt.

Choosing to bat first, Hursley made a tentative start against some accurate bowling and after 10 overs had only managed 23 runs. 

With the early departure of Kumo Sharma, Tim Bacon joined Sam O’Brien but the slow scoring rate continued and when the latter was dismissed in the 22nd over, Sparsholt were well on top. The advent of Tom Flynn changed the momentum considerably. 

The previous week he had scored a superb 80 in the defeat against Parley and he now continued where he had left off the week before. He confidently took the game to the visitors with some big hitting that included 4 sixes over comparatively long boundaries. When he was caught at deep mid-on in the 45th over, the score had become far more respectable and at 181 for 3 with six overs remaining, a score of 220 plus seemed a possibility. As it was, Sparsholt regained the initiative and despite the anchor role played by Tim Bacon (67*) and the freedom afforded to those joining him, the final score of 212 for 5 was below par. For Sparsholt, Tom Berzins took 3 for 42.

Hursley knew that they had to take early wickets and Ben Holden obliged. He followed up the big wicket of the potentially prolific Joe Merlino in his first over with the wicket of Fuller in his second.

When Chris Butcher was dismissed by Mahesh Kajendran in the 7th over, Sparsholt had been reduced to 23 for 3. Tom Berzins, however, was untroubled and a 59 run partnership with Callum Doran and a useful contribution of 26 from Matt Robbins took Sparsholt to 140 at the start of the 40th over. Berzins (64) looked to be taking the game away from Hursley when he was unfortunate to be run out backing up, a straight drive from Freddie Gurney being deflected on to the stumps by McNamara. Captain Oli Green made some strategic bowling changes but Gurney (34) was batting well and Sparsholt were closing in confidently on the required total, requiring 26 runs from the last three overs. It took a brilliant diving catch from Tom Flynn to take his wicket and when next ball Green had Robbins dismissed lbw the initiative changed again. Kajendran and Holden bowled the final two overs and when Holden had Ley caught behind by Ollie Spink, Sparsholt were dismissed for 200. For Hursley, Ben Holden took 3 for 25.

Sparsholt now sit 4th in the table with Hursley close behind in 5th place. Sparsholt have eminently winnable games v Fareham and South Wilts to come whilst Hursley go to league leaders Trojans this week and finish with a home fixture against Hook and Newnham.