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Purbrook edging closer to first title in 13 years
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 22 August 2002
Thirty points from the final two matches against Hursley Park and Ventnor will give Purbrook the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 championship.
If the goal is achieved, it will be the first time in 14 years - since 1989, when as Purbrook and Portsdown they lifted the Hampshire League County Division 2 title - has The Heath seen any silverware.
Purbrook, who will have things virtually buttoned up if they emerge victorious at The Quarters, took an emphatic step towards the crown with a six-wicket win which ended New Milton's aspirations.
Kelvan Finch (4-43) and Mark Stanley (3-31) reduced New Milton from 96-2 to 153 all out - Nick Gargaro and Dean Miller both hit 37 - before Ian Hunter's 52 not out steered Purbrook home.
St Cross Symondians, 14 points behind the leaders, trimmed Ventnor by eight wickets at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.
Stuart Charman (3-19) was particularly impressive as Ventnor tottered at 110-8 before teenager Phil Baldwin (49) lifted the final total to 155-9.
Mark Parker (46) was within sight of his seventh half-century of the season when he was trapped leg before, but Steve Shaw (45) and Graham Barrett (35) eased St Cross to a comfortable win.
Hursley Park skipper Rob Lowe could hardly believe his luck when Leckford pitched up with only seven players at Bakers Farm.
The rest of the team had been delayed in heavy M25 traffic on the way home from Mike Howard's Hertfordshire wedding the previous day.
Leckford's five 'out-fielders' ran their socks off as Hursley openers Jason Marr (55) and Raman Prendergast (42) shared a 100-run start.
But worse was to follow as Matt Harvey lashed an unbeaten 134 to sweep Hursley towards a massive 366-5.
Leckford's wedding guests finally arrived in the 28th over, certainly in time to watch Mark Costin (52) notch his maiden half-century in a 188 all out (Lowe 5-55 ) reply.
Gosport Borough have climbed into fourth spot after whipping Alton, the mid-summer leaders, by 183 runs at Privett Park.
John Adams (67), Mike Rees (47), Nathan Collins (45) and the promising Stewart Magee (43) got the lion's share of the Borough's 233-5.
Alton, whose season has completely fallen apart, were skittled for 50, with Paul Jenkins (5-3) and Richard Edwards (4-15) inflicting the damage.
Australian-based Dean Oliffe hit 121 and shared a handsome third-wicket stand with Tim Joy (77) as Portsmouth II totted up 308-5 against relegation-threatened Hartley Wintney at St Helen's.
Aussie Jimmy Castrisos hit 94 in Hartley Wintney's 244 all out.
Wicketkeeper Colin Jolley was playing his final game of the season before begging a two-match suspension imposed by the club following an incident in the recent visit to Hook & Newnham Basics.
Hook continued their climb towards mid-table security when half-centuries by Keith Lovelock (53) and Lee Moore (51) established a useful 214-7 at Flamingo's.
The Corhampton club's slide down the table continued as Flamingo replied with 194-9, Hampshire Under-16 prospect Tom Cledwyn hitting a classy 59 not out.
Hambledon's recent form mirrors that of Flamingo's, except that the Don's, having lost a host of front-line players, are languishing in third from bottom position.
Things didn't get any better at Havant, where knocks by Nick Scutt (52) and Mark le Clerq (42) proved in vain as Hambledon reached 201-7.
Havant polished off the runs with some ease, Matt Ward (56), Ollie Jones (50) and security chief Jon Owen (49) leading the way.
But there was some long overdue joy for Redlynch & Hale, who hadn't won since Flamingo's visited Woodlands in early May.
The long wait for that elusive win came when off-colour Paultons came to the village - Lee Wordley's 52 helping Redlynch to 178 before Steve Moody (4-18) ripped out the visitors top and bottom.
Opener Colin James carried his bat for 61 and watched all ten partners get out.
There's no stopping Waterlooville's Aussie import Chris Baumann, who hit 101 in the 283-run spree against Bashley (Rydal).
Baumann, who is challenging Purbrook's Will Prozesky for the Premier 3 batting prize, dominated a 157-run start with Martin Shephard (36) before Paul Russell (38) and Paul Spinks (42) made hay.
Only Iain Britton (69) made much of a fist of it as Bashley surrendered at 183 all out.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
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