A weekend of mixed results for Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club saw the 1st XI claim a hard-fought win, while our other teams showed determination in challenging matches across the board.
๐ฅ 1st XI Secure Impressive Run Chase Victory
๐ Portsmouth & Southsea 1st XI beat Sway CC by 5 wickets
The 1st XI put in a commanding performance to chase down 210 and earn a deserved 5-wicket win away to Sway CC.
After winning the toss and bowling, we restricted Sway to 210 all out in 46.5 overs. The wickets were shared among the bowlers, with Jake Peach leading the charge with figures of 4 for 35. He was well supported by Felix Stanley (2 for 31), Quinn Prentice (2 for 49), and Maxwell Goddard (2 for 40).
In reply, a mature and composed knock of 82 not out from Ned Rockett guided the team home. He formed a crucial partnership with Felix Stanley, who added a fluent 58. The chase was completed in the 48th over, securing 22 valuable points.
๐ช 2nd XI Battle but Fall Short at Emsworth
Emsworth CC beat Portsmouth & Southsea 2nd XI by 4 wickets
Despite a valiant effort, the 2nd XI were beaten by 4 wickets at Emsworth CC. After being asked to bat, we posted 173 all out in 33.3 overs. Sanka Purna stood tall with a stylish 79, and Karthik Muthuraman chipped in with a handy 32.
With the ball, both Karthik Muthuraman (2 for 32) and Sanka Purna (2 for 20) picked up important wickets, but Emsworth chased down the target in the 39th over.
๐ 3rd XI Show Spirit but Edged Out by Solent Rangers
Solent Rangers CC beat Portsmouth & Southsea 3rd XI by 5 wickets
The 3rd XI put up a spirited performance in a closely fought match against Solent Rangers. Batting first, we posted 169 for 8 from our 45 overs. Shahid Hussain top-scored with a gritty 49, with useful support from the middle order.
Defending the total, Ben Hallatt (2 for 23) and Samuel Wheeler (2 for 33) kept the game alive, but Solent Rangersโ Sachin Augustin hit a key half-century to see the hosts home with 10.3 overs to spare.
๐ 4th XI Overpowered by Hayling Island
Hayling Island CC 3rd XI beat Portsmouth & Southsea 4th XI by 125 runs
It was a tough day at the office for the valiant 9 man 4th XI, who came up against a strong Hayling Island outfit. The home side posted 224 for 8, despite some excellent bowling from Stephen Pinhorne, who finished with 3 for 39.
In response, the batting struggled to get going. Only Stephen Pinhorne (28) and Richard Bailey (20) reached double figures, as the innings folded for 99.
๐ Portsmouth CC Edge P&S by Just One Run in T20 Thriller
In a breathtaking T20 encounter at Portsmouth, Portsmouth Cricket Club 1st XI clinched a dramatic 1-run victory over Portsmouth & Southsea Cricket Club 1st XI in a match that went right down to the final ball. Batting first, Portsmouth CC posted an imposing 177 for 4 from their 20 overs, thanks largely to a sublime knock from Mohammed Ashraful, who was simply unstoppable. The opener anchored the innings with an unbeaten 109 off 63 balls, striking 16 fours and 2 sixes at a blistering strike rate of 173.02. Despite early breakthroughs from Jake Peach (1/21), Tom Wheeler (2/37), and Quinn Prentice (1/19), Ashrafulโs innings proved the backbone of Portsmouthโs total.
Support came in patches, with Sujeeth Daini (27 off 21) and Freddie Gadd (10* off 10) providing brief partnerships. Extras contributed 14 runs to round out a solid batting display. Chasing 178 to win, P&S CC began confidently. Jack Davies (57 off 41 balls) and Ned Rockett (59 off 35) launched the reply with purpose, finding boundaries regularly and maintaining a healthy run rate. Their partnership took the visitors to 113 for 2, keeping them on course for victory.
Matthew Benfield added a quick-fire 33 off 21, pushing P&S closer to the target as the match came alive in the final overs. With just 6 needed from the last over and wickets in hand, the momentum seemed to be with the visitors.
However, drama unfolded as Rakshith Rao held his nerve in a pressure-filled final over. Three wickets fell in the space of four balls, including the crucial run outs of Alex Davidson (6 off 3) and Matthew Benfield, followed by the dismissal of Quinn Prentice on the final delivery, leaving P&S stranded on 176 for 7โjust one run short.
๐ Players of the Week (Across All Teams)
It's been a week packed with top-tier performances across the club. Here are this weekโs standout players:
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๐ Ned Rockett โ 82* (1st XI)
A match-winning knock of high quality and temperament in the weekend fixture.
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๐ Sanka Purna โ 79 (2nd XI) and 2 wickets
A brilliant all-round showing, leading with the bat and chipping in with crucial wickets.
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๐ฏ Jake Peach โ 4-35 (1st XI)
A devastating bowling spell that made the difference in a tight contest.
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๐ฅ Shahid Hussain โ 49 (3rd XI)
Anchored the innings when the side needed stability and kept the scoreboard ticking.