Behrens routs P&S on his Dons return
Justin Behrens claimed six of the best as Hambledon made a winning start to the Southern Premier Cricke t League season.
The South African leg-spinner topped the Division 1 bowling charts with 32 wickets as the Dons were relegated last year.
Back for a second SPL stint, he bagged 6-22 as Portsmouth & Southsea were restricted to 151-9 off 50 overs at St James after being inserted.
Chris Pratt and Anurag Sharma both hit 35 as the visitors collected a fivewicket third tier victory.
Behrens, below ,has enjoyed a fine winter in his home country, topping the Western Province CA Premier wicket-taking list with 44.
And only last month he took a hat-trick for the Rondebosch franchise in the Cape Town Club Cricket T10 League win over Durbanville.
After Ewan Mansford and Matt Benfield had put on 42 for the first P & S wicket, first change Behrens struck with the second ball of his second over, having Benfield caught by Pratt.
Behrens also took a wicket in his third and fourth overs - Usman Akram departing for a single and Jack Davies without scoring.
Mansford (68) and Ollie Kanavan (30) added 66 for the fourth wicket, but Ollie Bembridge (2-27) bowled the latter and P & S’ tail couldn’t wag.
Returning for a second spell, Behrens dismissed both Jake Peach and
Jono Willey for ducks in the same over, before Mansford was run out off the final ball of the innings.
The Dons were wobbling slightly on 64-3 when Pratt departed, but Sharma and captain Spencer Le Clercq (21 not out) added 58 for the fourth wicket.
Victory was sealed when Mansford delivered a wide from the second
ball of the 34th over.