HEAVY rain washed out the majority of the Southern Electric Premier Cricket League and the Hampshire Cricket League programmes last weekend, but two of the region’s Regional 2 North West sides managed to play – with mixed results.

Mottisfont were one of the two local clubs to avoid the wet weather as they made the long journey to Hungerford.

Having won the toss and put the home team in to bat, Font skipper Dave Barnes had some early success with the ball.

He had opener A Smith well caught in the deep by Patick Joshi, before rain forced the players from the field for 20 minutes.

On resumption of play Ian Bradwell picked up a wicket, caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Kevin Barnes, but this was to be the extent of the bowlers’ success, as J Rowell (94no) and C Thorpe (70 no) took Hungerford to 191-2 at tea.

Chasing a revised target of 170 from 34 overs, Font got off to a bad start, losing the prolific Bradwell in the first over.

Graham Collins (31) and Kevin Barnes steadied the ship, but when the latter was caught for 27, they were well behind the required run rate.

Kevin’s Brother Neil turned the game around, as he smashed a rapid 49, including five massive sixes, before holing out to long on. Some frantic running between the wickets from the middle order left six runs required from the final over.

Veteran Pete Southwell pulled the second ball for four and a scrambled single from the next made it seem as though the affair was settled.

However, with Dean Butler caught at fly slip off the fourth ball and a dot ball from the fifth, nerves were jangling all round.

Sujoy Sarker managed to get a bat on the final ball and a full length dive in the dirt got him home for the winning run.

North Baddesley & Knightwood also managed to get a game in, but they may wish they hadn’t as they fell to a disappointing defeat at Redlynch & Hale seconds in Regional 2 North West.

Batting first, Baddesley struggled against good bowling, an unpredictable wicket and rain interruptions.

They managed only a paltry 108 all out, with only skipper Richard Williams (26), Ashley Stokes (23) and Jim Khan (21) making any significant contribution.

Mike Elkins with (3-7) and Josh Bishop (3-12), caused most of the damage.

After rain calculations, Redlynch were left requiring a modest 89 from 30 overs.

They received an early scare as Shameel Naqvi quickly removed both openers, but in spite of a fine spell of 4-23 from Steven Maidment, Redlynch knocked off the runs with four wickets to spare.

Home captain Dave Webber led from the front with a major contribution of 49.