ROWLEDGE’S batting misfired as they lost by 33 runs to lowly Totton & Eling at the Recreation Ground.

It was only Totton’s second win of the season in the Southern Premier League Division One, while Rowledge have slipped back into mid-table after two consecutive defeats.

Having won the toss, it all looked so promising for Rowledge as Jake Wish and Richard Forbes sent the Totton openers back to the pavilion inside two overs with one run on the board.

However, the visitors recovered with a vengeance. Ollie Perrin and Mark Mbofana batted circumspectly at first, although quick to attack when offered any width, and were particularly keen not to let the spinners settle.

The pair put on 125 and a big total seemed likely, but the introduction of Chris Board and Sushant Balajee put a brake on the run-rate and made inroads into the middle order.

Perrin, having made 69 off 86 balls, was caught by Tom Gleave off Balajee on the drive. Board clean-bowled Kumodak Sharma and was soon in on the action again, taking a steepling running catch off Balajee.

David Lloyd ran out dangerman Mbofana for 73 with a direct hit and after valuable late runs from skipper Chris Thomason, Totton reached 218-9 off their 50 overs.

The total looked well within Rowledge’s capabilities, but they got off to the worse possible start, with Gleave and Joe Randall walking back to the pavilion in the first over.

The impressive Perrin bowled Gleave and then had Randall caught behind.

Lloyd unluckily played on and when Ian Metcalfe was adjudged caught behind, the home side were 39-4.

Balajee, meanwhile, was playing confidently, continuing to be positive, but in need of support from the other end. Thomason removed both Board and Austin and that man Perrin returned to dismiss the Wish brothers, leaving Rowledge 124-8 and in a world of trouble.

Forbes and Balajee gave them a fighting chance with a stand of 56, but the end was in sight when Mbofana bowled the defiant Balajee for 89, the New Zealander having hit 12 boundaries.

George Keeley fell to the same bowler and Forbes was left stranded on 25 not out after a disappointing run-chase.