Amport 303-6 beat Rowner 268

Farmer and all-round sportsman Ian Hares smashed his maiden league ton for Amport on Saturday, helping the village side to a maximum points victory over Rowner at Keepers Hill, writes Jon Anstee de Mas.

Winning the toss, Amport batted first on a well-prepared pitch in hot conditions with a lightning outfield. Young Rowner opening bowler Matt Ingram had a mixed start with his first over going for 16, Matt McCann (58) being the beneficiary of some short and wide stuff, but pitched the ball up to bowl skipper Anstee de Mas (2). That was probably the high point for Rowner as the rest of the Amport batsmen proceeded to make hay.

Matt McCann built partnerships with Ben Wadsworth (11) and Simon Cornelius (17) but it was the 5th wicket partnership of 130 between Lee Ayers (45) and Ian Hares (104*) that destroyed Rowner. The in-form Ayers, while playing a faultless innings, was overshadowed by his billiards partner Hares, who showed no respect to the Rowner attack.

With incredible bat speed Hares's hundred came in only 20 overs and included five sixes and eight fours, and there was no respite at the other end as Alex Garman (33) and Wayne Egglestone (10*) saw Amport reach a superb 303-6.

Rowner's openers came sprinting out of the blocks, and Egglestone (3-60) and Phil Payne (3-63) struggled to contain them. They were relieved when Bowman mis-timed a pull off Egglestone and offered a simple return catch. This introduced J Kemp (106), who marshalled the Rowner reply in fine style.

But the introduction of Paul Bruen (2-49) to the attack, bowling in tandem with Payne, that forced Kemp to take some risks and sky a catch to the ultra-safe hands of Alex Garman at long on. Egglestone returned to clear away the lower order.