From a golden duck to SPL T20 Cup star turn
Minhaj Jalill starred on only his second Portsmouth 1st XI outing in a Southern Premier League T20 Cup win over Waterlooville.
The Sri Lankan all-rounder had flopped with the bat in making his debut the previous day in a Division 1 win against Alton.
But he put that behind him with an unbeaten 81 in a superb partnership with James Christian as Portsmouth claimed a 36-run victory at St Helens.
Jalill and Christian (77 not out) put on an unbroken 174 for the second wicket as Portsmouth closed on 1801 - skipper Ben Duggan (5) having been dismissed by Archie Reynolds after just three balls.
Jalill cracked seven fours and four sixes in his 59-ball innings, while Christian faced one ball fewer and struck 11 boundaries.
Josh McCoy conceded 45 runs off his four overs, while Sam Hillman conceded 22 off the 12 balls he sent down.
Ville’s reply began badly with Gabriel Broadhurst (9) first to go. And they were 172 when skipper Reynolds (5) was dismissed by his former Rowlands Avenue colleague Ashan Silva.
McCoy (68) and Kiwi Josh McGregor (41) hauled Ville back into the tie, but time was against them and they finished on 144-5.
Ville will now enter the
SPL T20 Plate tournament, which they won at Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl last year.
Portsmouth & Southsea will also contest the Plate after a 10-wicket thrashing by National Village KO Cup holders Calmore Sports.
Restricted to 109-8 at Loperwood
Park, the visitors’ bowling was taken apart by cup specialist Ben Johns.
The opener thrashed an unbeaten 81 off just 40 balls - including 16 fours and a six - as Calmore cantered to victory after just 9.3 overs, Ben Saunders conceding 43 runs off his three overs.
It was Johns’ fourth cup innings of the season after National Village scores of 58, 56 and 100 not out - following on from 75, 54 not out and 58 not out in the quarters, semis and final respectively of the National Village tournament in 2021.
Johns’ opening partner against P & S, Shawn Johnson, faced just 18 balls and ended unbeaten on 25.
Opener Matt Benfield (32) top scored after Saunders had won the toss and elected to bat.