Clan-tastic innings from Alex
Clanfield’s Alex Andrews hammered a sensational maiden Hampshire League century in Division 6 South East.
On only his third appearance of the league season, he struck a magnificent club record 184 out of a team total of 261-4 against Fair Oak 4ths.
Andrews faced 122 deliveries and struck 22 fours and four sixes as he compiled an amazing 70.4 per cent of his side’s runs.
Mike Collins scored just 13 in a first wicket stand of 78 with Andrews, before Steve Perkins - the next highest scorer with 23 - helped him add a further 99 for the second wicket.
Andrews has mainly been playing Sunday friendly cricket for DACD this year. Skippering the team, he has not been dismissed in his last 10 innings.
Prior to taking apart the Fair Oak bowling, Andrews’ highest score was 91 for DACD in a friendly against Droxford in 2017.
The highest previous score by a Clanfield batsman was the 158 by Gareth Lovett in a friendly against DACD in 2004.
As well as being a new club record, Andrews also had the honour of registering Clanfield’s maiden Hampshire League century.
This is the club’s first season of league cricket, having only previously played Sunday and midweek friendlies.
‘We thought we’d dip our toe in (to league cricket) and give it a go,’ explained skipper Matt Bradley.
‘As the village expands, we’d love the club to grow with it. The plan is definitely to field a 2nd XI in the Hampshire League, though that will depend on how many new players we can attract.’
Regarding Andrews’ record-breaking innings, Bradley added: ‘I’d love Alex to play all the time but he can only play every other week due to work.
‘He’s been with the club for over a decade, since his teens, and is developing into quite a player.
‘I must admit I thought Gareth’s record would never be broken.’
Oak were dismissed for 173 in reply, losing by 88 runs. Only two of their nine batsmen reached double figures - skipper Alex Corbett-Ball (60 not out) and Ian Bass (66).
Clanfield skipper Matt Bradley was his side’s most successful bowler (2-14).
Gosport Borough 3rds defeated clubmates Gosport 4ths at Privett Park.
Dan Higgins (41) and Graham Bradley-Turner (31) took the 4ths to 60-1 - before Alvin Sajijohn (3-21) reduced them to 68-4.
The 4ths then lost three late wickets for eight runs to be restricted to 118-8 (Gary Kitchin 2-11, Stuart Bogg 2-17).
Jim Higgins (2-19) dismissed both 3rds openers cheaply, before Scott Rodwell (35) and Bogg (23) added 55 for the third wicket.
Gosport slipped from 75-2 to 77-5, but captain Shaun Harris’ unbeaten 23 helped his side win by four wickets in the 37th over. Portsmouth & Southsea 4ths raced to a seven-wicket victory over Purbrook 3rds. Purbrook were dismissed for 137 with two balls of their 40-over allocation remaining at Langstone Harbour.
Stephen Pinhorne (3-11 off eight overs), Harry Yard (2-11) and James Curwood (2-15) got among the wickets forP&S.
Extras (26, including 20 wides) top scored for Purbrook with opener Roy Marsh (23) and No 10 James Harradine (22) highest with the bat.
P & S reached their target in only 22 overs, after openers Mohit Patel (41) and Curwood (24) had laid good foundations.
Maxwell Goddard - who normally plays for P & S’ 1st XI in the Southern Premier League - cracked five fours and a six in his unbeaten 34.