Winchester and District Hampshire Chronicle Cup Final

Tichborne Park (112 for 2) beat Fair Oak (111 for 6) by 8 wickets

TICHBORNE PARK kept a firm grip on the Hampshire Chronicle Cup with a well-paced win over their Hampshire League championship rivals at Shepherds Lane, Compton, on Monday, reports Ian Henderson.

The two sides were expected to produce a close contest, but Tichborne always seemed likely to take the honours after asking their opponents to bat first on a gloomy and rather chilly evening.

Opening bowlers Lawrie Begni and Will Allam bowled quick and straight, restricting openers Mark Thorne and Charlie Kemp with the aid of some good ground fielding on a difficult surface.

Thorne went for 14 in the fifth over and John Lomas was hit on the helmet as he tried to avoid a short pitched ball from Allam. He suffered a cut under the chin from the helmet itself but battled on.

Worse was to befall Mark Wheble, however, when he ducked in anticipation of Begni's bouncer only to find the ball keeping remarkably low. He suffered a whack on the elbow and was forced to retire hurt.

Kemp looked on from the other end and, having been dropped when 12, was eventually removed for 18. But Oaks were struggling to boost the run rate above five an over until Derek Manning joined skipper Tony Oxley.

They shared a brisk partnership before Oxley was run out for 19, but the South African-born all rounder went to crack an unbeaten 34 as 38 runs were wrought from the final three overs of the allotted eighteen.

A score of Nelson still didn't seem enough and left Tichborne 'expecting' victory. They soon lost Nick Gerrard to a smart run out by Morne van Rooyen off his own bowling, but Martin Cheyney was in fine form, improvising some fine strokeplay and running like the wind.

After John Cook departed cheaply, Gary Chalkley joined his captain and the pair shared an unbroken stand of 63 to guide Tichborne home with nine balls to spare.

Having reached his half-century with a pull for six, Cheyney closed on a classy 59 and Chalkley a valuable 28 despite the best efforts of Oaks skipper Tony Oxley and his men.

The Tichborne captain earned the batsman of the match award and Begni's earlier 2 for 20 in five overs gained him the bowling award ahead of his partner Allam (1-20).

So the Alresford-based club captured their second trophy in a week, adding the Chronicle Cup to the Igglesden Trophy success against Owslebury.

A disappointed Fair Oak can gain revenge for this defeat by pipping their opponents to a place in the Southern Premier League next season.