It was another Saturday of poor results for Fair Oak, who lost all four of their senior matches. 

The 1st XI travelled to Liphook & Ripsley in Southern Premier Division 2, and went down by 88 runs to leave them tenth out of ten teams with just one win from seven completed matches.

Left-arm spinner Lewis Goodyear, opening the bowling, took a wicket in the first over en route to figures of 3 for 39. He shared the new ball with quickie Tom Merrill, who finished with three wickets of his own, for 48 runs. But after their early setback Liphook built steadily. 

Ash-Lee Harvey top scored with 56, batting at number 3, and all of the home middle order made it into double figures as they racked up an impressive 215 all out from their full fifty overs. Oscar Amis made 36, George Neave 20 and Harry Munt 33, and although Kannan Manoj and Monty McKenzie took a wicket each Liphook were definitely in the ascendancy. Oaks keeper Matt White rounded off the innings by pulling off two run-outs in the latter stages to ensure maximum bowling points.

After the break Fair Oak’s woes with the bat continued. Chas Janczur, who has been consistently breaking batters’ hearts for as long as anyone can remember, was at it again with four victims for just 25 in a ten-over spell. Monty McKenzie, Joe McNeeney and Matt White each made 16, while Sree Yegnasubramanian contributed 20. But the unlikely top scorer was Goodyear, who made 22 and shared in an eighth-wicket stand of 32 to at least propel the visitors past the hundred mark.

From 127 for 8, Rob Nicklin bagging a couple of late wickets, the end came swiftly. The couple of wickets fell without further addition to bring the curtain down on the Oaks innings in the 39th over and seal a convincing win for Liphook.

Fair Oak’s 2nd XI entertained table toppers Sarisbury Athletic 2nd XI in Hampshire League Division 2, but were plagued by batting issues of their own. In the face of an excellent Sarisbury attack Jamie Sparshott top scored with 31, brothers James Featherstone making 23 and Richard 19. Oaks looked to be on firm ground at 100 for 3. But from there the wheels fell off spectacularly. Chris Sanders took a hat-trick (Nick Bass, Phil Smith and Ross Stewart) and finished with 4 for 19. David Banks chipped in with 3 for 20 as Fair Oak collapsed to 102 all out, losing their last seven wickets for just three runs. The bottom five in the order all collected ducks.

Sarisbury got the job done briskly in reply, losing four wickets in the process. Sanders capped a fine game with 25 at better than a run a ball, while Jack Lovett mixed aggression with watchful defence to make 30 not out. Richard Featherstone bagged Pete Hammond’s wicket with the first ball he has bowled in anger for several years. But the visitors sailed home at 107 for 4 before the end of the 18th over, strengthening their hand at the top of the table.