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Ashling v Portsmouth & Southsea

19th June 2005

P & S 151-7 dec. Ashling 105 all out

Nick Loubser 43, Nick Loubser 2-13

After Ashling's runaway start to the season a game against potentially one of the strongest opponents on the fixture list was always going to be interesting. Portsmouth and Southsea arrived with a predominantly young and match-fit side (including two South Africans of their own!)
Captain for the day Nick Jones won the toss, and on a blisteringly hot day took the brave decision to put P & S in to bat, reasoning that we could chase any total these days. His decision seemed an excellent one three overs later as the score stood at 4 for 3 and Ashling contemplated cold beers far earlier than anticipated. It wasn't to be, as first Jones (15), Hillier (17) and Smith (34 not out) got together with the excellent South African Upton (47) to post a good total of 151 for 7 by tea.
Ashling got off to an appalling start as wickets fell early. Dean Holden made 14, but watched batsmen depart at the other end with alarming regularity as Traylen (1), Sleep - out to a ball which popped up off the gloves when he was just starting to look comfortable - (7), Ward (4) and Judd - spooning a catch to mid off for the third week running (5). Nick Loubser arrived at the crease and some aggressive hitting hauled Ashling back into the match. Nick Jones (9) stuck around long enough to offer some useful support but when Nick J was bowled and Nick L skied an attempted six-hit on 43 it was 94 for 7 and up to the tail to try to salvage a draw. James Ford had no luck, falling for one run. Yours truly (Steve Harvey) stuck it out for 5 overs of the nine remaining before being trapped lbw for 3, and Craig Mason remained unbeaten on 8 at the end. The task of seeing out the last three overs was too tall an order for number eleven Stuart Edwards who edged a dolly catch to second slip.
Beaten at last then, but not downhearted. Ashling look forward to the two fixtures this week as an opportunity to get back on track.