HARTLEY Wintney will be hoping to continue their recent good home form when Hambledon visit this weekend.

When these sides met earlier in the season, Hartley looked to be heading for a big total at 90-1, before rain washed out the game.

The village side will reshuffle their line-up for the visit of the Meon Valley side with Rich Hill likely to take over as skipper as Daniel Plume, James Beckwith, Rhys Batcup and Scott Baldwin will be missing.

Looking ahead to the game, captain Plume said: “We have a few players out, but I am sure the boys will do well.”

The skipper admitted the toss proved to be vital last weekend as Hartley’s winning run came to an end at Calmore Sports, as they lost by 68 runs.

The home side won the toss and a century from Matt Hardy, helped Calmore to 236-6. Seb Waddington (2-48) and Batcup (2-33) were the pick of the Hartley bowlers.

The visitors reply started well thanks to Matt Kerr (11) and top scorer Tom Garwood (38). Plume (27) also chipped in with the top order runs, but Hartley slumped from 89-2 to 105-7. Batcup (18) and Ben Hyde (27) at number seven and eight managed to get the score past 150, but they were all out for 168.

Plume said: “The pitch really dried out by the end of the day and we found it so much harder to bat against their spin attack. It we had won the toss I would have batted first and I think we would have won.”

l Hartley Wintney will host Yateley in the final of the Don Lynch Aylward Cup on Thursday July 28 (6pm).

Hartley made the final after hammering Cove, while Yateley beat Aldershot, who saw off Basingstoke and North Hants after a bowl out.

Plume said: “It should be a great evening and we look set to have a good team.”