ROWLEDGE recorded an important win against Winchester KS on Saturday.
The city-based club were missing a couple of key players, but called up more than adequate replacements in Hampshire Board player Dave Greatham and aspiring Sussex paceman Billy Taylor, making his first appearance this season in division three.
Put in to bat, Rowledge made a positive start, with Chris Yates Jnr and Nick Morant both looking comfortable against Greatham and Taylor.
However, Morant was adjudged run out in the 23rd over with the score at 80, and next ball Yates was caught behind off Wiltshire's Jimmy Taylor. And when Ricky Yates followed soon after, Rowledge were under the cosh.
David Lloyd and Justin Larresey staged a recovery, but both perished to the leg-spin of Ollie Green.
The visitors had stuttered to 150-6 when Matt Warner joined Dave Booton and the pair added 50 vital runs in the last 10 overs. Warner was run out off the last ball of the innings, while Booton remained undefeated on 52 – a true captain's innings for his side.
Billy Taylor, for all his efforts, finished wicketless after his 12-over stint.
In reply, Winchester were immediately on the back foot as three early wickets fell to Warner and Simon Bonser, Chris Yates holding two slip catches, the first taken in that position all season.
Greatham and Jimmy Taylor offered hope for the home side. But Chris Yates came on to snap up Greatham and Lloyd bowled Taylor with an absolute peach.
A late rally by Sciber and Pryce gave Winchester another glimmer of hope, but, despite conceding 54 extras, Rowledge had done enough.
All the bowlers performed well and the wide count was a little harsh as the ball swung around all day.
Chris Yates again generated real pace and troubled all the batsmen.
Rowledge are home to Portsmouth II this Saturday.
ROWLEDGE
C Yates Jnr c Sciber b J Taylor 30
N Morant run out 33
R Yates b J Taylor 1
D Lloyd lbw O Green 19
J Larresey st Sciber b O Green 17
D Booton not out 52
I Metcalfe c Gasson b O Green 0
M Warner run out 9
Extras 37
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Total (for 7 wkts) 198
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Bowling: J Taylor 2-33, O Green 3-43.
Winchester KS
B Taylor c C Yates b Warner 4
C Wheeler c CYates b Bonser 3
O Green c R Yates b Bonser 4
J Taylor b Lloyd 29
D Greatham c Metcalfe b C Yates 22
A Worth b C Yates 1
D Croft b C Yates 3
P Green c Warner b Lloyd 2
S Sciber not out 29
A Pryce b R Yates 17
R Gasson c Metcalfe b Warner 0
Extras 54
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Total 168
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Bowling: S Bonser 2-33, M Warner 2-31, D Lloyd 2-30, C Yates Jnr 3-28.