Flamingo who were facing relegation 'dropped' some 1st players down, and elected to bat.  The decision backfired seriously.  Phil Cook and Nigel Louth contained and destroyed the batsmen.  After 14 overs Flamingo had been reduced to 23-5 with Cook (4-22 off 8 overs) and Louth (3-17 off 12 overs) finishing their seasons superbly.  A. Ames with 18 (and the only man in double figures) gave brief hope, but the introduction of Graham Bird (3-26) and excellent catches from Olly Sheldrake and Dave Guy saw Flamingo whipped out for 66.

In reply, Mark Dibben declined his usual opportunity to open the batting at the end of the season due to excessive drinking the night before.  So brother Nigel decided to bolster his seasons average only to be run out by Dave Guy for a duck !  Sheldrake fell for 6, and Stevie Fenner for 12 (another run out).  Dave Guy (37no) was joined by Nigel Louth who completed the victory in the grand manner with Littleton finishing on 67-3, and the game over by 5:30.

Yet another game falls foul of the rain.

On an interesting track, Littleton decided to take first knock. Dave Guy and Nigel Dibben patiently built an opening stand of 68 before Guy (21) and Steve Fenner (2) both fell to I.Hall (2-32).  Nigel Louth joined Dibben, and the score was kept ticking over.  Dibben past his fifty, and looked set for a ton, before being bowled for an excellent 80 in the 36th over.  Phil Cook with a quickfire 15, and Louth - continuing his good form - with 48no smashed 64 off the final 6 overs leaving a final total of 200-4.

In reply Crown lost Griffiths to Baker early on, caught behind by Andy Walker (the first of his four catches).  A. Rees then bludgeoned his first delivery from Baker for 6 over point, and shortly after did the same again. Emmerson was then caught off a snorter from Baker (2-40).  With Louth having to leave early he opened the bowling with Baker.  His miserly spell of 12-6-8-1 left Crown struggling at 36-3 off 18 overs.  Phil Cook and Mark Dibben then entered the attack, and wickets tumbled at regular intervals.  Dibben's swing often beat the bat and he finished with 2-11.  Cook produced his usual boring accurate pace, and after he bowled Rees for 52 (the only batsman to reach double figures), he wiped out the tail to finish with excellent figures of 5-18 and Crown Taverners all out for 85.

Skipper Nigel Dibben again managed to lose the toss, and Hungerford elected to bat on a good track.  Ponting (26) and Everard (14) raced to 42 runs off 8 overs, being particularly severe on Hugh Baker.   Nigel Louth and Mark Dibben were then introduced, and they found swing which neither Baker or Phil Cook could find.  The runs dried up, and wickets began to tumble.   Louth's first six overs went for only 3 runs and included the wickets of Ponting and Shough.  At the other end Dibben proved unplayable with numerous deliveries beating the bat, but he was rewarded with only one wicket, but what a wicket.  A fast slash sent the ball flying high to gulley, where 68 year old Chairman Alan Jackson, standing in at short notice, reacted in a Jonty Rhodes manner to take a brilliant catch above his head. Dibben finished with a superb 1-14 off 9 overs.  Only 30 runs came off the next 20 overs, and Louth completed his fifor finishing with 5-23 off his 12 overs.  Cook returned at the end to perform his usual rabbit hunting ritual and completed his 12 overs with 3-20.  A run out off the final ball of the innings saw Hungerford collapse to 105 all out with only A. Thorpe (21no) making a significant contribution.

In reply Nigel Dibben and Dave Guy made a very reserved start against Prestoe (0-14 off 8 overs) and Skeater (0-19 off 8 overs) with runs proving difficult to come by.  The total trundled along to 67 off 24 overs before Guy fell LBW for 18.  Stevie Fenner came in to join Dibben who cruised past his fifty.  With six runs needed for victory, Fenner decided to finish in the grand manner, but failed due to a superb boundary catch.  This proved a problem for Nigel Louth who was so confident he wouldn't be required that he was in the changing room taking his pads off.  He avoided being timed out, and hit the winning four for victory with 9 overs to spare.

Skipper Nigel Dibben endeavored to concede the match by losing a vital toss.  On a damp track which was only going to dry and improve, Littleton had to bat first.  Dibben and Dave Guy both fell with the score in single figures.  Nigel Louth and Rob Jackson (15) took the score patiently to 42, before Steve Fenner on return from paternity leave blasted a a quick 22.  Louth playing a restrained innings continued to lose partners on a regular basis, before departing for an excellent 67 a few overs from the end.  With the exception of an entertaining knock from Eliot Hayward, the tail added little and Littleton collapsed to 135 all out.  J. Melhorn (4-29), G. Ramsey (2-22) and P. Thompson (2-28) inflicted the damage from the Farley bowlers.

In reply, Phil Cook quickly removed the openers Redding and Spayes, and with the score at 24-2 Littleton were in the game.  A. Coveney and S. Wakeford them put on a stand of 85 taking the score to 110.  Cook (an excellent 3-30) removed Covenay for 32, but it was far too late and Wakeford with 68no took Farley to a comfortable victory.

Non stop rain again, no game.

As per the 1st team, rained off.

In a bizarre match, 10 man Littleton elected to bat first on what proved to be a very unpredictable track.  Dave Guy (26) and Nigel Dibben slowly but steadily provided the foundation and took the score to 51-1 off 21 overs.  B. Pearce (0-12 off 8 overs) and M.Powell (0-27 off 9 overs) providing the containment.  After drinks, enter Roy Cavill and Simon Mant.  Wickets tumbled on a frequent basis, with no batsmen offering resistance.  Dibben fell for 32, and the rest of the team crumbled with the final 8 wickets going down for only 31 runs leaving a final total of 88 all out with 5 overs to spare.  Cavill finished with 5-23 and Mant with 4-15.

In reply, Over Wallop had a disastrous start with Pearce and Richards falling for ducks to Hugh Baker (1-23) and Phil Cook in the first two overs.  Cullen then joined Cavill and they comfortably took the score to 53-2 off 21 overs.  Drinks again (what was in them ?), and Mark Dibben immediately removed Cavill for 36 and Robertson for a duck,  Cook (12 overs, 2-21) removed Cullen, and suddenly Over Wallop were in trouble.  Dibben's swing bowling was proving unplayable.  Andy Walker took a flying catch behind to remove Pinchbeck, and Mills and Mant went cheaply to Dibben who finished with 5-16 off 11 overs.  Nigel Louth (2-3) then removed the two tailenders.  The final 8 wickets had fallen for only 14 runs leaving Over Wallop all out for 67 in the 30th over.

Littleton batted first and struggled to put on runs against some ordinary bowling.  The top order all got starts, but no one was able to capitalise on it.  Paul Zanetti top scored with 21, but the biggest partnership was a last wicket stand of 27 between Chris Tee and John Elford producing a final total of 135 all out.  In reply Liphook started well with the first wicket putting on 63.  After that wickets fell at regular intervals with Alan Zanetti bowling a superb 12 over spell taking 4-27 and Chris Tee also taking 2-35.  Liphook eventually achieved their target with only 2 balls to spare having lost 7 wickets.

In this eagerly awaited match, Littleton lost the toss and were asked to bat on a low slow track.  Dave Guy and Nigel Dibben provided a slow but steady start against tight bowling from Mark McLeonards (12 overs 1-18) and Dave Cooper (0-33).  Guy fell to McLeonards for 18 in the 16th over with the score on 45, and Dibben was joined by Oli Sheldrake, who also started with extreme caution.  After 30 overs the score had crept up to 95-1 with primarily Dibben and Extras (32) contributing.  Sheldrake fell to Dave Harfield (1-43) for 26 and Nigel Louth departed for 8.  John Dennis chipped in with two wickets.  Dibben then took on the bowling passing 50, and with support from Phil Cook (17) rattled the total along, including 21 off one Harfield over.  He eventually fell for a superb 92 near the end, and after a couple of run outs, a respectable total of 193-6 was achieved.

In reply Richard and David Harfield (29) took the score to 44 before 3 wickets fell in two overs.  Hugh Baker (2-42) and a run out accounted for these.  Rob Harris was at the crease and seemed to take the score along at ease.  Mark Dibben (2-40) bowled some superb away swingers and accounted for Steptoe.  Scott McLeonards (plumb LBW) became the first of 3 wickets for Nigel Louth and at 134-6 the game seemed to be heading towards a Littleton victory.  Harris went past 50, when with late order support from John Dennis (23) and Mark McLeonards (17) the game became tense, especially after Louth conceded 27 runs off two overs !   The game changed when Phil Cook (who had bowled his usual tidy 12 overs for 29 runs) took a superb catch to dismiss Harris for 62.  Louth (3-55) then accounted for the final two batsmen leaving victory by 13 runs.

Silchester batted first and had no answer to the superb bowling of Will Lecomber. He destroyed the innings taking 6-36 in 12 overs, and was ably supported by Simon Fountain who took 3-32.  Silchester folded to a measly 98 all out.  In reply Littleton were in a hurry and although the runs came easily and at a steady pace....so the wickets also fell. Paul Doswell (23) and Nigel Pervin (20) saw home the victory with 24 overs to spare, but only three wickets in hand at 103-7.

Well that seems to be the summer gone.  Non stop rain, no game.

As per the 1st team, rained off.

If only the same amount of rain fell at Overton as did at Littleton !  The team were not in the best of states after the previous 'night/morning' out for the 20/20 game against Kent (see Past Events for details and photos).  On a damp pitch with more rain expected, Nigel Dibben won the toss, and interestingly elected to bat.  After 5 overs Dibben and Oli Sheldrake had both perished to young Harrison and skipper Galvin.  Galvin then for some reason decided he was better keeping wicket (open to debate) and put on the gloves.  After a few more overs it was obvious why, he could ensure the batsmen heard his jovial sledging far more clearly.  Nigel Louth after several moans played a slogger shot against a straight ball which did nowt and got bowled.  Then Rob Jackson joined Dave Guy for an insomniacs stand.  Guy had two sessions of 22 and 26 consecutive dot balls, then the finale was a 39 dot ball partnership with Jackson.  Jackson then departed having been dropped by the slip fielder, he stood and watched (he may even have dozed off) as the player ran him out while he stood out of his crease.  After another rain interruption, Ex Hampshire junior captain Matt Angell proved why he is an Ex, and was bowled for 2, and as the wickets tumbled Guy decided he needed to get going as there would be no one left.  Several lusty blows took him past 50, and he eventually carried his bat for 63no from a poor total of 137-8 in 42 overs.  Young Nick Harrison, 3-43, A. Regan, 12 overs for 1-37 and A. Wake, 9 overs 1-30 were the pick of the bowlers.

After more rain, the game was reduced to 29 overs, and Overton were set a challenging (yea right) revised target of 110.  Opener Isaacs clubbed Hugh Bakers first 2 balls for 4, and he then proceeded to concede 34 runs from 5 overs before being replaced.  Phil Cook from the other end bowled his usual tidy spell and had Regan caught behind by Squirt for 22 and finished with 1-28 off 9 overs. Osmond came in and was caught and bowled by Louth second ball, but that was it.  All Littleton could pray for was rain before 20 overs were completed.  Isaacs continued to blast the ball all over the place for a superb 74no and Mullen with 18no secured the victory with the first ball of the 21st over, when ironically the heavens opened.  Why couldn't it have done it a few overs earlier ?  On a day when only one team looked as if they wanted to win, defeat has to be conceded to the better team.

Not a lot happened.  Heavy rain, sodden pitch, 6 overs bowled. more rain, match abandoned !. 

Despite the volume of rain during the recent hours, the East Woodhay ground again proved perfectly playable. This may have proved unfortunate as Littleton only had 10 men again due to a late withdrawal. Nigel eventually won a toss and elected to bat. Nigel (23) and Dave Guy (16) gave Littleton a steady start before both fell with the score at 65 in the 20th over.  The run rate then dropped, as did the cheap wickets of Matty Angell and Rob Jackson.  A. Kite (2-44) and Tristram Stockwell (2-33) bowled well.  At 114-6 off 34 overs, Hugh Baker (29) and Andy Walker (11no) had a partnership of 40 to complete a defendable total of 159-7.

In reply, East Woodhay lost opener Bird in the third over to a flying catch behind by Andy Walker off Hugh Baker (1-36).  A. Batchelor (21) and G.Neale took the score to 39 before the introduction of Nigel Louth and Mark Dibben turned the game.  They found swing in the ball no one else had achieved and proved unplayable.  The next 20 overs went down for the addition of only 40 runs with wickets falling at regular intervals.  Dibben bowled his 11 overs taking 2 -23, and Louth had even better figures of 4-17 off 12 overs.  Neale eventually perished after making 28 off 34 overs.  Phil Cook returned to try and wipe out the tail, but youngsters J.Lawrence and A.Kite took on the bowling putting on 29 for the 9th wicket.  Despite this Cook still only conceded 26 from his 10 overs and East Woodhay's innings closed on 108-7.

On a very damp track Littleton were asked to bat.  Despite the conditions the scored was pushed along a good rate with Paul Doswell (25), Simon Fountain (24) then lusty blows from Calum McGregor (24) and Will Lecomber (22) all getting stuck in.  Stevie Fenner continued his rich vein of form, again contributing zero from his two balls, leaving a final total of 148 all out.  In reply Froxfield just could not put bat to ball.  Will Lecomber bowled his 12 overs for just 15 runs, but the damage was done by Chris Tee 4-24 and a destructive session from Calum McGregor 4-9, seeing Froxfield fold to a poor 69 all out. 

Littleton were asked to bat, despite losing the toss on a hot day.  The track was true, but not fast, and Dave Guy and Nigel Dibben struggled against tidy bowling from Andy Bennett and Steve Marlow.  Dibben fell for 11 and instigated a collapse with Oli Sheldrake, Nigel Louth, Simon Fountain and Matt Angell all falling cheaply, then Guy falling for 30, leaving the score on 94-6.  Steve Fenner and Phil Cook (13) boosted the total.  Fenner eventually fell for 31, but Hugh Baker (15) with some lusty blows took the score to 161-8.  Alan Bennett (2-28), Simon Dorrington (2-48) and Phil Lacey (3-18) were the bowlers who caused the damage.

At tea, the rain set in, and 17 overs were lost.  The revised target for Breamore was 115 from 25 overs.  Phil Cook and Hugh Baker (3-41) opened superbly with wickets tumbling at regular intervals, leaving Breamore at 50-6, but the dangerous Shaun Marlow was still at the crease.  Nigel Louth was introduced and the game changed as Marlow and Paul Taylor (20) took a liking to his bowling.  After Taylor fell, the crucial wicket of Marlow (37) caught by Nigel Dibben off Cook steadied the nerves, and Cook (5-34) completed his haul by removing the final two batsmen (well one was a very young Tom Marlow) on 103 and victory by the narrow margin of 12 runs.

On a difficult track, Littleton lost the toss and were asked to bat.  Against stubborn bowling, only Rob Munroe (21) and John Eacott (21) showed resistance.  Stevie Fenner dropping down from the 1sts contributed a valuable zero from his two balls before the team were bowled out for a paltry 86.  In reply, Littleton battled well despite an injury crisis.  Alan Zanetti had to leave the field after 4 overs, but Will Lecomber 3-47 and Chris Tee 2-28 gave hope.  Two crucial catches were dropped, then both 'keeper Rob Munroe and young Tom Hammant were also injured leaving only 8 fit players.  Ramsdell eventually struggled to reach their total at 87-7. 

Batting first, depleted Littleton had a steady start from Dave Guy and Nigel Dibben (19).  Tight bowling from Stickland and Macbeth, then Kiani and Stead restricted the runs, and saw wickets fall regularly.  John Eacott(13) kept Guy company for a while, with Louth, Baker and Nick Eacott all falling cheaply. From 102-5, Phil Cook (19) and Matt Angell (19) bolstered the total, before Guy eventually fell for 'chanceful' 82.  Derek Dibben (14) and Mark Dibben then added tail end runs to leave a defendable total 196-7.

In reply, AWE took the game to Littleton, and Loviegrove (42) and Diellier-Merricks (41) piled on early runs.  When they departed Burt (33) and Foot continued scoring freely, although the run rate was increasing.  Nigel Louth bowled 10 overs 1-24 including 5 maidens.  Three quick wickets near the end, Phil Cook taking 2-34, left AWE needing 7 off the final over, then 2 off the final ball with Foot on 46no as the non facing batsman.  This led to a bizarre series of events.  Mark Dibben did all that was asked, and his final delivery beat the batsman.  The batsmen ran and 'Keeper Matty Angell threw the ball to the bowlers end.  Everyone missed it, so the batsmen started back for an impossible 2nd with the ball safely with Phil Cook.  He made is way to within a few feet of the stumps, and gently threw the ball at them for the run out.........and missed !  AWE had somehow got the 2 runs to secure the win as byes.  And to add to the misery, Derek Dibben while fielding managed to break his thumb.

Littleton batted first made a good start with Steve Barrow (45) and Nigel Pervin (40) taking the score to 111-4.  The rest of the batting then collapsed leaving a disappointing 132 all out.  In reply, Old Basing were made to fight for the runs, but eventually came through at 133-4 with five overs to spare.

Old Alresford elected to bat first on what appeared to be a good batting track.  Unfortunately for them, it proved a little low and unpredictable.  In his first over Phil Cook bowled Cyril Sankey, then Andy Stevenson with a beauty.  Hugh Baker at the other end then removed Jamie Lees and S. Pernell leaving the score at 19-4.  Dave Stanbrook (17) gave some hope but Mark Dibben (2-17) removed him and Richard Lane.  Baker (3-35) and Cook (4-21) returned to clean up the tail, leaving a total of 99 all out.  9 out of the 10 wickets were clean bowled.  So where did the runs come from ?  OA's top scorer was wides with 29 !

In reply, the track continued to prove low with several shooting, which was not helped by the tight bowling of Dave Stanbrook and John Waters.  Openers Dave Guy and Nigel Dibben struggled, and only 19 runs were scored off the first 15 overs.  Matt Davis was eventually introduced, and Guy was bowled by his first ball for 19.  Oli Sheldrake joined Dibben and quickly accelerated the score.  Dibben (26) was bowled by Davis (2-14) from a ball that shot and never got off the ground.  Sheldrake fell to Cyril Sankey for 26 just before the required total of 100 was reached for the loss of 3 wickets.

Batting first, Littleton had a steady start with Pete Arculus (30) and Derek Dibben (38) anchoring the innings.  Several other contributions in the 20's bolstered the total, despite D.Heath taking 5-23.  The final score of 188 was competitive and defendable.

In reply, Aldershot also built up several good partnerships and at 144-5 looked in a good position.  Enter Alan Zanetti, who with his 5-31 restricted Aldershot to 179-9, falling 9 runs short of the required total.

With many regulars missing, Nigel Dibben won the toss and elected to field.  On a stodgy track, Idlers initially struggled against the bowling of Hugh Baker (3-44) and Mark Dibben (2-44).  Wickets fell on a fairly regular basis until Impey (25) and Ince (37) increased the tempo.  Nigel Louth (2-49) and Graham Bird (2-38) took the final wickets leaving Idlers on a challenging 185 all out.  The heavens then opened, and the stodgy track became even wetter, before the game was reduced to 24 overs, and a revised target of 129.  In reply Littleton never came to grips with batting, especially against N. Lawrence. Guy, Dibben, Sheldrake, Louth and Fenner all fell before the total reached 25.  John Pullen hit 14, but the rest of the wickets quickly tumbled to Beckles 3-1, and Lawrence who finished with 7-24.

Batting first Littleton made an excellent start with Pete Arculus scoring 51, ably supported by Ravi Anwar with 42, and Derek Dibben with 25.  Unfortunately the tail struggled, and the final total was a disappointing 185 all out.  In reply Medstead accumulated runs at a steady pace, with some debatable decisions assisting.  Will Lecomber took 2-45, but M. Gresham carrying his bat for 107no was superb and saw home the victory with 7 wickets in hand.

The rain of the previous days led to the game being called off due to a wet track.  Great news for the saints supporters who could now watch the play off game.

As per the 1st team, a damp track led to the game being called off.

Despite only having 10 men, ['skipper' Paul Anscombe pulled out with a sore finger which apparently needed a sling], Littleton had a record breaking day.  Batting first, 32 runs (all boundaries) were on the board after 4 overs.  Dave Guy (who had already been dropped off the first ball of the match) then fell for 22 introducing debutant Oli Sheldrake (who was originally down to play for the 2nds) to join the ever reliable Nigel Dibben.  From then on it was carnage.  Both batsman blitzed the bowling, and also the opposition players. One straight drive from Sheldrake committed the bowler to A&E.   Both batsmen quickly got their 50's .  All the bowlers were treated with contempt (especially A.Mills 1-75 and S.Hares 0-95) before Sheldrake completed his century first.  Not long after, Dibben followed suit. By this time the 100 and 200 partnerships were passed, leaving the 300 as a target. In the final over of the game, 19 runs were scored, with the help of 8 byes, allowing Sheldrake to complete his 150 (156no) and Dibben (121no) achieving an unbroken partnership of 305 off 260 balls. 

Batting first, Littleton scored consistently ensuring maximum batting points.  Pete Arculus (45) anchored the innings, and Ravi Anwar with 52 supported him superbly.  John Eacott (21) and Alan Zanetti (27no) added late runs to take the total to 228-5.