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FORTNIGHT OF FALSE DAWNS
View From Silly Point by Jamie (Mitch) Mitchell
The defeat of Odiham & Greywell three weeks ago was supposed to signify a turning of the corner for Portsmouth 2s. Sadly, that corner led to a dispiriting dead end, as The Unicorns have relapsed back into losing habit with consecutive cloutings against East Woodhay & South Wilts 3s.
The weekend before last, a boundary bonanza at St Helens from opening batsmen Nicky Wyatt (60) and Jamie Mitchell (56) laid the foundation for a competitive 250 for 7, but the East Woodhay willow-wielders handily chased it down with 9 balls and 4 wickets to spare.
Last Saturday saw our troops set sail for Salisbury to face unbeaten South Wilts 3s. A dry-looking deck meant that winning the toss would be key – sure enough skipper Nicky Wyatt called wrong, and the hosts gleefully chose to bat first. Short boundaries, fast outfield, and five dropped catches added to the bowlers’ toil on another warm afternoon, as the promotion-chasers thumped their way to 294 for 7 from 45 overs. Promising spells from Andy Chapman (0 for 40), Paul Hungerford (2 for 48), and Raz Havell (2 for 39) prevented the already-overwhelming target from spilling over to near-impossible.
Despite a 69-run stand for the second wicket, Pompey were always behind the asking rate, and once Mitchell departed for a fluent 64, the incoming batsmen had the unenviable task of trying to hit the ground hurtling. Wickets continued to fall steadily in the pursuit of runs at breakneck speed, thus enforcing an end to the chase long before the visitors finished up on 182 for 8.
A local derby against fellow strugglers Hayling Island this Saturday, will hopefully trigger a turn-around in the 2s’ fortunes. 1pm start, so get down to St Helens and support the lads.
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