OTs & Romsey added a home win to their opening day victory at Sparsholt, making it an excellent start to the season.

As is so crucial when rain threatens OTR won the toss and put Easton in to bat. Tight bowling from Mukesh Morjaria and debutant 15-year-old Ross Crick put the pressure on from the start, with runs at a premium.

The pressure was compounded by the intervention of rain, and the break of just over an hour meant that OTR would be chasing a much reduced target.

At the resumption Easton knew they would be up against it, but were never able to break free against the medium pace of Jeremy Ord (2-36) and the spin of overseas player Raj Naik (2-38).

Max Smith, nursing a hamstring injury, still managed to take 3 wickets for 20. Easton totalled 171 for 9, Dave Birch (73) and Shaun Green (25) being the main contributors.

At tea the calculators were brought out, and a revised total of 96 in 28 overs was established. Smith (38), with a runner, and Charles Forward (24) put on 65 for the first wicket in 14 overs, laying the foundations for a second successive win.

Naik (20 no) closed the game at 96 for 4 with 4 overs to spare.

Andy Birch picked up two consolation wickets at the end for the visitors, who took 4 points to OTs & Romsey's 21.

l In County Division 1, Old Tauntonians and Romsey 2nd XI and Old Basing combined to produce one of the most exciting games in either clubs' history.

Batting first in cold and drizzly conditions the Old Basing openers struggled early on against the accurate opening attack of Jon Dowling and James Acreman. Once they got their eye in, however, Peter Came (143) and Doug Brown cut loose and the home team set a commanding total of 257 for 2 off their 48 overs. Phil Wyatt and Steve Caldicott took the only wickets to fall.

Undaunted by the huge target openers Jody Brown and Simon King set about reducing the arrears. King (32) departed in the 18th over, but Caldicott hit a brisk 16 before being brilliantly caught at slip.

Rob Holden (36) and JJ Robinson continued to press but the arrival of Kevin Light in the 39th over, with 66 still required, changed the course of the game. An awesome display of power hitting took him to an undefeated 52 off 22 balls, and when debutant Jody Brown (97no) stroked the ball to the thirrd man boundary the rest of the team rose as one to applaud and to celebrate a magnificent victory.

l In Hampshire Division 3 South West Old Tauntonians & Romsey III travelled to Ellingham II for their first league game of the season.

In a match reduced to 32 overs per side OTs & Romsey contrived to turn a comfortable win into a nail-biter. Putting the opposition into bat in foul conditions some positive batting by the home team was soon finding all the gaps in the field. OTs and Romsey dropped six catches as Ellingham scored 153 for 6 with Duane Stacey returning figures of 7-23-3 and Pete Cox 6-24-2.

OTs & Romsey's reply began brightly with the hundred coming up for the loss of two wickets in the 14th over. A middle-order then ensued with the visitors finally scraping home for the loss of 8 wickets in the 28th over. Brad Taylor top scored with a flamboyant 63, the only other batsmen to trouble the scorer being Duane Stacey (23) and Kev McCaffrey (22).

On Tuesday two OTs & Romsey teams played in the Border League. The A team, away at Mottisfont scored a commanding 127 for 3 ( C Forward 45, K Trodd 36 ). The Mottisfont reply fell short at 84 for 5, Nick Wood picking up two wickets.

Roles were reversed at Romsey, where the OTs & Romsey B team managed a meagre 42 for 9 against Redlynch & Hale. There were outstanding bowling performances from R England (5-3-8) and S Fox (4-3-4). Redlynch knocked off the 43 required in quick time.

Thursday was cup day; OTs & Romsey B had a bye, while the A team was at home to Ampfield. Ampfield struggled to 87 for 7, the wickets being shared around. Ian Tulk was OTR's inspiration, hitting an unbeaten 61 in a nine-wicket win.

Mixed results for Colts

On Sunday a strong OT's & Romsey U11 side travelled to Totton to take on BAT Sports.

The home side chose to field in slippery conditions. Runs accumulated steadily and at the halfway point of 8 overs OTs & Romsey (starting at 200) had scored 229. From there they accelerated, Lawrence Carter stroking the ball to all areas of the ground for a flawless 31 not out. With Tom McCormack Cox scoring 20 no a formidable score of 288 was posted.

BAT were pegged back from the start by some tight bowling, particularly from Cameron Messenger (3-3-1). Under pressure to score quickly the home side lost wickets regularly, George Eldridge taking 3 for 17 as the BAT innings closed at 228 for 8.

OTs & Romsey Under 13s had their second match of the season called off by the opposition - also for the second time.

OTs & Romsey Under 15s entertained a very strong Redlynch & Hale team on Sunday. Winning the toss Romsey invited the visiting team to bat on a damp wicket, and Redlynch put up a display of good stroke-play to amass 145 for 4 after 17 overs. James Sackley (2), Callum Cox and Stuart Wood were the wicket-takers; Danny Mogg took two stunning catches at point.

Romsey showed strength of character against a fine bowling attack to reach 60 for 5 at the end of the game. Seb Sanders-Rivas (16), Danny Mogg (11) and young Phil Hughes (11) were the batsmen in the runs.