Rowledge earned a third successive win in Division One of the Southern Premier Cricket League with a 121-run victory at home to Totton & Eling on Saturday.

The hosts won the toss and batted first. Rowledge got off to an aggressive start with openers Jontie Sebborn and Max Martin putting 30 on the board in six overs. A mini-collapse then reduced Rowledge to 52 for four.

Ryan Littlewood joined Ollie Ryman at the crease and steadied the ship as they looked to rebuild the innings gradually. Just as the balance was turning in Rowledge’s favour Littlewood fell for 11.

Overseas player Justin Felsch and Ryman produced a fine 115-run partnership, with both batting sensibly and slowly increasing the run rate until Felsch was stumped on 48 to leave Rowledge on 210 for six.

Ryman then took the Totton bowling attack apart before eventually falling for a superb 133 as Rowledge finished on 282 for eight at the end of their allotted 50 overs. Matthew Simms (four for 58) was the pick of the Totton bowling attack.

Totton openers Rajat Parmar and Joe Baker started aggressively chasing the 283 target, with 46 on the scoreboard after ten overs. However, once Parker fell to Martin wickets continued to fall consistently throughout the chase.

Some excellent fielding from Rowledge meant the required run rate climbed and Totton batters fell looking to increase the scoring rate. Opening bowler Richard Forbes looked back to his best and ended with figures of five for 33 off his ten overs, and with the rest of the spin attack picking up wickets the total seemed beyond the visitors.

Partnerships were hard to come by for Totton, and the innings fell away with the final wicket falling at 161 as the home side clinched a comprehensive victory.

The difference between the two sides was Ryman’s innings and the tight and accurate bowling of Forbes.

Rowledge face another home game on Saturday, when in-form Old Tauntonians visit the Recreation Ground. With three consecutive wins under their belt Rowledge are beginning to play with belief and confidence and are gradually climbing up the league table.