The Going is very good – a century and wickets

Portsmouth Community CC all-rounder Dave Going starred with his maiden league century and three cheap wickets in an opening day Hampshire League derby win.

Going struck 104 - no-one else in his team scored more than 12 - before taking 3-17 off eight overs in an 89-run Division 6 South East victory over Portsmouth 4ths at Cockleshell Gardens.

Put into bat, Community lost three quick wickets but chairman Matt Barber (12) saw off the opening bowlers whilst vice captain Going maintained a healthy run rate.

When Barber was out, Going accelerated, hitting three maximums and finally reaching his century. He had just missed out on three figures the previous weekend, hitting 95 in a friendly against US Portsmouth.

When Going was finally out - his previous HL best had been 61 against Clanfield last summer - Jack Whiteaway (12 not out) took Community up to a commanding 193-8.

Debutant Ben Thompson and new signing Kalim Shiraz both took a wicket at the start of Portsmouth's reply, but it was that man Going who gave the bowling momentum with a trio of lbw decisions.

Community couldn't quite take the final wicket needed, with Portsmouth’s lower order producing a fine rearguard action. They closed on 111-9 off their 40-over allocation.

Going was the leading wicket-taker - he was the only Community bowler to take more than a single wicket - with Portsmouth skipper Alistair Thompson (20) and Adam Edwards (18 not out) top scoring.