Sarisbury determined to hit back from loss

SARISBURY return to Southern League division one action on Saturday following their epic National Village Knock-Out semi-final defeat at Reeds CC.

They host Andover at The Hollow looking for a thirdsuccessive league win to further their ambitions of a top-three finish.

Club stalwart Jon Floyd admits it won’t be easy to recover from missing out on a day at the home of the cricket, especially having got so close.

‘Losing at Reeds was gut wrenching and very emotional,’ said Floyd.

‘They won it with 10 balls to spare after we had them 100 for five at one stage.

‘It might not be easy to pick ourselves up after being down in the dumps.

‘We can still finish in the runners-up spot so won’t be giving up on that just yet.’

Secondplaced Portsmouth host OTs and Romsey looking to bounce back from their defeat at Andover.

Home captain, Jack Marston wants his team to maintain the pressure on leaders Hook & Newnham right to the end of the season.

He knows the prospect is unlikely but it is not beyond all possibility.

‘Hook would really have to mess up and it is unlikely that we can catch them,’ said Marston.

‘We want to win our last four games though and see where that takes us.

‘It was a weird defeat at Andover because we didn’t play that badly.

‘Nine times out of 10 we would defend a total of 240 but it wasn’t the best we have bowled.’

Jordan Palmer-Goddard, Matt Shaw and Henry Woolfe are drafted into the side.

Waterlooville can consolidate their mid-table position in division two by beating third-placed Liphook & Ripsley at Rowlands Avenue.

The home side are looking to improve following their four-wicket defeat at struggling Basingstoke & North Hants.

They know they must respond well and will be looking to quickly put that painful loss behind them.

In the premier division struggling Burridge may find it tough at third-placed South Wilts.

Rick Ankers has seen his team lose three of their last four matches.

They have slipped to third from bottom in the league.