Hurstbourne Priors v Ropley II. Hurstbourne Priors’ North East Division 2 promotion push remained on track after a brilliant knock of 98 by opener Ashok Nautiyal.

Priors were invited to bat and opening with Nautiyal, stand-in skipper Steve Cady took full advantage with a typically hard hitting 64, caught on the fence in the 26th over with the score on 123. Will Shahinian was promoted to number three and maintained the momentum with a quick fire 30. Not to be outdone, Ashok cut loose, hitting a number of classy boundaries and with eight overs to go and 183 on the board, the remaining batsman made hay. Nautiyal fell agonisingly close to his ton when he was clean bowled by a turner from wily veteran Barry Newton. Ade Budd (19no) helped steer the total to 231-5 from their 42 overs.

Ropley’s openers started well, but Rajiv Kumar continued his impressive bowling form, dismissing Curral with Budd taking a sharp chance at short leg with the score on 25. Ollie Green (30) and Piper Stenantt (31) found it tough to keep the required run rate and when Ropley skipper Green had his middle stump knocked over by Budd they looked in trouble. They had no answer, when Cady decided to take the pace off the ball, introducing Rich Carter to the attack. He finished with an impressive 4-30 and was ably supported by Budd, who took 2-35 from his ten overs. Stuart Samways and the hard-working Kumar (3-19) quickly mopped up the tail with two overs to spare, with the score on 138.

Full round up of local cricket in Friday's Advertiser