Fareham & Crofton suffer more HL misery
Fareham & Crofton have work to do if they are to put themselves in contention for promotion to the Southern Premier League.
Having started the Hampshire League campaign with high hopes, a 26-run home loss to Bournemouth 2nds was their fourth in six County Division 1 fixtures.
Former Minor Counties batter Nick Park hit 109 as the visitors ran up 253-4 at Bath Lane - a total F & C boosted with 34 wides (opening bowler Dan Reader conceding 14 of them).
Park put on 117 for the third wicket with Tom West (44) with no F & C bowler taking more than one wicket.
In reply, Jeremy Bulled hit 83 - the vastly-experienced wicket-keeper’s highest score since a league best 114 for Havant six years ago.
Batting at No 3, Bulled hit seven fours and a six in a 120-ball innings before he was eighth out at 208. Only Morgan Frost (36) had provided him with much assistance, the pair sharing a fourth wicket stand of 104.
Extras (37) ended up as F & C’s second highest score as they were bowled out for 227 to lose by 26 runs.
Isaac Lowe tore through Portsmouth 2nds’ top order to leave them rooted to the foot of the County Division 1 table.
The Easton & Martyr Worthy bowler had entered the game with combined figures of 5-199 in his first five league games of 2022. But he dismissed Portsmouth’s top five en route to taking 6-16 as the city club were skittled for 109. Opener Indy Chakrabati (26) top scored.
Ben Stanbrook’s unbeaten 52 helped his side to a seven-wicket success – Portsmouth’s fifth loss in six games.