Mansbridge v Froxfield: TEN-MAN Froxfield slipped to defeat at Mansbridge in County Division 4 South of the Hampshire Cricket League on Saturday afternoon on a damp pitch that was difficult for both teams’ batsmen to find any fluency.

Despite starting the game with nine men, Froxfield made a good start having won the toss and fielded, as they restricted the home team to just 50 from the first 20 overs.

K Hall was the only batsman to look anything like comfortable as he made 51 before being dismissed by Clive Brailey (2-26).

Steve Singleton (2-30) also picked up two wickets in a good ten-over spell with Jordan Hiscock (1-17), Hallam Brown (1-46) and Sam Barnett (1-30 off ten overs) also picking up a scalp each, as well as a run out for Steve Blohm, as Mansbridge reached 163-8 at the end of the first innings.

Froxfield’s reply got off to a slow start with Toby Barnett losing his opening partner early on.

The scoring rate increased when skipper Hiscock came to the crease, but he fell for 20 having looked in good touch and from then on wickets began to tumble.

A partnership of 46 between T Barnett and S Barnett threatened for a while but when both fell in quick succession, with T Barnett falling for an impressive 52, it was left to Singleton (14) to help Froxfield reach another batting point. When Singleton was last man out, the visitors were all out for 125.

Froxfield will hope to bounce back on Saturday, when they host Fareham and Crofton’s second team.