Hawkley v Medstead: HAWKLEY batted first, and Paul Cross started out at a cracking pace, supported by Nick Davis.

Cross profited from an early let off when he was dropped, and he made the most of his good fortune with a fine display of clean hitting.

Davis edged behind for nine and there after Mark Hibberd gave solid support as Cross cruised past his 50.

Another three-figure score seemed on the cards for Cross until Medstead’s Simpson turned an off-break enough to bowl him for 68.

Hawkley skipper Hallam Brown was clearly not in a mood to be outshone by his team mate, hitting five boundaries from Simpson’s next over. Clive Hopkins (25) and Magan Singodia (11) gave valuable support as Brown raced to towards 50, which he achieved with a big six before falling for 70 to a good caught and bowled as Hawkley finished on 234-8 at tea.

Medstead made a slow start to their reply against the spin bowling of Kevin Kinge and the pace of Chris Huntley, however, it was not until the 11th over that Hawkley broke through when Kinge bowled M Simpson.

Medstead’s top order put up a fight: Rory Simpson made 27 before falling to a smart catch by Singodia, and B Simpson held the innings together with a battling 53 before he was run out.

The game was going Hawkley’s way, but Medstead’s tail, held together by Fry and Denton, resisted long enough to see them through to stumps on 167-9. Kinge and Hudson finished with two wickets, Huntley, Cross and Elliott Brown one apiece.