NEWLY promoted Hartley Wintney suffered defeat on their return to Southern League Division One at Portsmouth.

The home side won the toss and decided to bat.

Hartley’s new overseas player from Australia Ben Earney took the first wicket as he had opener Dan Wallis caught behind by Will Kerr, which was the first of three catches for the wicket-keeper.

From here Pompey started to build a good score thanks to some solid top order batting from Jordan Palmer-Goddard (26), Jack Marston (32) and Vikram Dawson (24).

Asad Abbas then took up the mantle with an excellent half century in 46 balls, which included six fours and two sixes, as Portsmouth reached 223-9.

In total Hartley used eight bowlers with new skipper Rhys Batcup (2-25) and Scott Baldwin (2-18) from six overs, the most successful.

In reply, Hartley were all out for 199, having at one stage been 114-3, when Matt Kerr (32) and Baldwin (38) were together.

Opener Will Kerr (31), Dan Wrenn (18) and James Beckwith (17) which included two sixes, were the next best scorers.

Hartley are at home to Sarisbury Athletic this coming Saturday.