THE cricket league schedule was again cut short by rain on Saturday, but some teams gained valuable game time the following day in The Cricketer Village Cup. And with some success. Rowledge, Liphook & Ripsley, Frensham and Blackheath all progressed to the third round.

Rowledge gained a notable victory over Surrey Championship Division One side Valley End in front of a large crowd. Cup games between these two teams are always close and absorbing contests and this tie was no exception.

Valley End, opting to bat, saw off lively opening spells from Jake Wish and skipper Joe Randall and openers Paul Williams and Justin Gray, mixing caution with powerful hitting, put on 76 in 18 overs. Four dropped catches did not help Rowledge’s cause and a big total looked on the cards.

However, things changed when Chris Yates and Tim Wheatley joined the attack and the veteran pair reduced the visitors to 102-5 in the space of seven overs, Gray falling to an outstanding boundary catch by young Max Martin for a fine 57.

Valley End had pushed the panic button, but youngsters George Williams-Sales and Ollie Dunnett showed maturity beyond their years and pulled the innings round with a stand of 59, enabling their side to total 198-7 in the 40 overs.

It looked a challenging score, with the wicket juiced up by the previous day’s rain, and confidence soared in the Valley End ranks when Jake Wish was bowled early on.

With three slips and a gully, Valley End were going for the kill, but Martin and Dave Lloyd – a combination of youth and experience – proved a match for the classy opening attack of Steve Wellman and Sam Orpin.

With sensible batting, the pair gradually upped the run-rate and at drinks, Rowledge were strongly placed at 101-1.

But when Martin went for 37, Ricky Yates was leg before next ball and the visitors sensed a breakthrough. However, Randall played a captain’s innings and he and Lloyd added a further 52 runs. Lloyd’s controlled innings finally ended when he was lbw for 83 and Joel Swan, promoted in the order, hit two gigantic sixes to end the game in the 38th over, Rowledge winning by six wickets.

Rowledge will visit Blackheath in the next round on May 27.

VALLEY END 198-7 (J Gray 57, G Williams-Sales 43, O Dunnett 33; C Yates 3-39, T Wheatley 2-37).

ROWLEDGE 199-4 (D Lloyd 83, M Martin 37, J Randall 32 not out, J Swan 13 not out; S Reedman 2-29).

Liphook & Ripsley proved much too strong for Hampshire County 1 team Hursley Park at The Quarters.

Hursley have a proud record in the Village Cup, but the result was never really in doubt after Ryan Covey and Rob Nicklin had put on 97 for Liphook’s first wicket in good time.

Nicklin hit seven fours and a six in his aggressive 56, while Covey anchored the innings and when he was caught for a 92-ball 63, the visitors were a comfortable 160-4.

Two more wickets fell cheaply, but Jack Campbell weighed in with 59 not out off 48 balls and Liphook pressed on to 221-8 from their 40 overs.

Hursley Park, in reply, lost Paul Marks in George Neave’s opening over. Aaron Williams and skipper Nick Turner made 29 apiece, but they were the only batsmen to get going.

Off-spinner Dave Oliver and medium-pacer Sean Burton proved an effective combination, sharing seven wickets, and Hursley Park faded to 125 all out in the 35th over.

Liphook will be away to Bramshaw (Hampshire County 2) in the third round of the Hampshire Group on Sunday, May 27 (1pm).

LIPHOOK 221-8 (R Covey 63, J Campbell 59 not out, R Nicklin 56; T Burns 2-46).

HURSLEY PARK 125 (A Williams 29, N Turner 29; D Oliver 4-28, S Burton 3-37).

After a few hiccups, Frensham came through safely in a low-scoring game away to Leigh. Put in to bat, the home side lost early wickets to Jordan Frost. Opener Ian Pinnock and Alex Smith guided them to 60-4, but Leigh then collapsed to 102 all out.

Frensham also began badly and as they tried to knock off the runs in quick time, got into serious trouble against the bowling of Poenie Van Der Merwe.

However, James Wood held firm with 33 not out and an unbroken partnership with Adam Goulder saw Frensham home by four wickets in 19 overs.

Frensham will host Oakwood Hill in the third round.

LEIGH 102 ( I Pinnock 24, P Van Der Merwe 21 not out, A Smith 20; A Goulder 2-16, S Farncombe 2-16, J Frost 2-23).

FRENSHAM 104-6 (J Wood 33 not out, P Van Der Merwe 5-36).

Blackheath were away to SinjunGrammarians and the Fuller’s Surrey League side’s decision to bat first backfired as they were dismissed for 88 in 30 overs.

The I’Anson side made heavy weather of getting the runs and were seven wickets down when victory was achieved in the 35th over.