Jake’s seven! Peach stars as leaders win again
Jake Peach was in seventh heaven as Portsmouth & Southsea maintained their 100 per cent Southern Premier League record.
The opening bowler claimed a stunning 7-17 haul as Basingstoke & North Hants 2nds - set 156 for victory in the Division 3 encounter at St James’ - were skittled for 57.
Peach reduced Basingstoke to 14-4 and then, after Jono Willey had dismissed Chris Chandler, he took his fifth wicket as the visitors lurched to 19-6.
Peach’s figures are the best recorded by any bowler in the first five weekends of the 2022 SPL season, across all four divisions. He is also the joint top wicket-taker now in the fourth tier, with 11, alongside Sway’s Hugh Bernard.
Alex Davidson (30) had top scored for P & S after they had been inserted by Basingstoke. Harry Smith (3-11 off 10 overs) had put the hosts on the back foot, dismissing openers Chris Bollom (12), Toby Hernandez (8) and Jack Davies (0). Skipper Ben Saunders (25) and No 10 Willey (22) helped take P & S past the 150 mark.
Bernard, meanwhile, is not just a huge threat with the ball. Coming in at No 7 for second-placed Sway against Havant 2nds with his side 55-5 at the weekend, he struck 100 off 97 balls as the New Forest team posted 231-9.
Bernard then removed four of Havant’s top six, ending with 4-47, as Havant were dismissed for 180 in a game between the two teams promoted from the Hampshire League’s top flight in 2021.
Simon Loat (35), Alex Wilkinson (31) and Ben Feeney (29) had helped Havant 114-2 before Bernard started running through the top order.