Portsmouth boosted by huge total of extras

Portsmouth 3rds were given a huge helping hand by Purbrook 2nds en route to winning their Hampshire Cricket League opener.

Asked to chase 220 for victory at St John’s, Portsmouth stormed to an eight-wicket success in Division 4 South.

Opener Saf Musthaffa compiled a club best 82 not out, but Purbrook didn’t help their cause by conceding SIXTY extras! That huge total of free runs included 30 byes and 27 wides and saw Portsmouth win inside 36 overs.

Sam Harradine had struck a league best 61 to boost Purbrook’s total before he was dismissed by Portsmouth’s most successful bowler, Simon Jones (3-28 off nine overs).

Two US Portsmouth batters were dismissed in the 80s as their side won a Portsea Island derby against Portsmouth & Southsea.

Syed Elahi struck 86 at No 3 and skipper Farai Shoko, who opened, was unbeaten on 81 as US chased a 201 target with more than 10 overs in hand.

P & S were indebted to tailender Karthik Muthuraman for the fact they reached 200-9. Coming in at No 9, he top scored with an unbeaten 65. Skipper George Wilson (45) was the only other batter to score more than 14.

Bedhampton edged a tense finale against Fawley at Bidbury Mead.

No 3 Ian Onions (42) and opener Ross Basketter (37) top scored with 51 as Mariners posted 186-9.

Syge Bologne (3-27) and Basketter (3-28) put Bedhampton in command. In the end, though, they only won by three runs after lastwicket resistance from Dan Newcombe (19 no) and Luke Perry (13 no).