TEENAGER Rupert Armstrong’s four wicket haul on his debut should have been the major talking point of Hook and Newnham Basics game against Liphook and Ripsley. Instead it was over shadowed by some controversial umpiring decisions.

Home side Hook looked to be cruising to victory and pass Liphook’s total of 191, when skipper Matt Love was given out to an awful decision.

The captain could not believe it, as he expected the umpire to signal a no ball as George Neave had bowled a beamer at him, which nearly took his head off.

In self defence Love batted the ball into the air and Neave caught it Love said: “In cricket we have to bowl, field and bat well. Last week we bowled and fielded well, but did not bat well and lost, so I can accept that.

“This week, we bowled and fielded well and were cruising to a win with Josh (Buckingham) and myself at the centre. “Then we lost wickets to balls which were bowled at our heads. So it makes it very difficult to take this defeat.

“The only good thing to come out of today was the great performance of Rupert (Armstrong) with the ball which was great to see.”

Liphook won the toss and elected to bat and 15-year-old Armstrong was soon amongst the wickets dismissing Rob Nicklin (15) thanks to a catch from Ben Thane and then he trapped Mainak Ray leg before.

Kieran Thomson then bowled joint top scorer Ryan Covey (31) and Armstrong picked up a catch to help Ben Thane remove Liphook danger man Suman Ganguly as the visitors reached 98-4.

Gabriel Broadhust (31) and Grant Rouse (16) enjoyed the big partnership of the first innings as they added 42 for the fifth wicket.

However, Hook hit back as the visitors took three wickets with the score on 140 thanks to Anik Divecha and a couple from Kevin Poulter.

Spinner Poulter (3-32) struck again as Liphook found themselves on 151-8, but Harry Munt (12) and George Neave with a quick fire 30 added what turned out to be the match winning runs as Liphook were finally bowled out for 191.

The Hook reply got off to a steady start as Ben Thane (52) and Kieran Thomson (16) put on 45 for the first wicket.

This was followed by a short stay from Richard Willcock, before Thane and Jordan Hobday moved the score into three figures.

The pair were then parted when Thane was bowled, just after he completed his half century.

Hobday and Matt Buckingham then both departed in the space of four runs to leave the home side on 124-5.

This saw Josh Buckingham join skipper Matt Love at the centre and together they moved Hook slowly by surely towards what looked like the finishing line.

With the score now on 169, Liphook’s Neave returned to the action bowling three full toss deliveries in his first over back.

The third ball which should have been signalled as a no ball saw Love given out much to the dismay of the Liphook players and the watching crowd.

Soon after Buckingham was bowled by Suman Ganguly and another unpunished beamer from Neave saw Armstrong caught behind.

Last man Poulter strolled out to the centre, with Hook still needing 13 to win, but he never faced a ball as the home side were all out for 179.

It gets no easier for Hook, as they have a tough trip on Saturday, when they travel to Bournemouth, still looking for their first win of the season.