CRICKETAFTER a string of defeats, Ryde regained their form as they entertained Compton and Chandlers Ford at Hardingshute on Saturday.
Blair Granger got Ryde off to a good start in the field with a tight spell of bowling to immediately put the visitors under pressure.
It was when the pace was taken off the ball that wickets began to fall.
Skipper Lawrence Tolfrey (2-28) had good assistance from youngsters Olly Loach and Cameron Mitchell.
With conditions more favourable for the batsman, Ryde did extremely well to restrict Compton to 223.
Mitchell provided the fielding highlights of the day, producing three stunning direct hit run outs, two of which were from close to the boundary.
With run-scoring Ryde’s main problem in previous weeks, it was going to require a steady approach from a more experienced batting line up. The chase was initially led by Robert Hobbs (32) but the openers fell in quick succession and skipper Tolfrey joined Danny Bishop at the crease.
Bishop hit a typical quick-fire 60 but, as in previous weeks, fell at a crucial time. Out-of-form Tolfrey led from the front as he patiently picked off the ones and twos, creeping the home side to the required total.
His concentration broke when he got to 50 though, as he fell in similarly disappointing fashion, just 13 runs from victory. Granger’s 42 not out sealed the win for Ryde and gave them a much-needed 23 points.
Ryde can rest this weekend, after Liss pulled out of Hampshire League, County Division 1.
Meanwhile, the club’s second team remain top of their league with a very convincing win over Purbrook III.
All the batsmen were on top of their game, especially Toby Jackson (72), Ben Dore (43) and hard-hitting innings from Steve Lewis (46) and Kevin Cooper (35 not out), who helped Ryde to 277-5..
Cooper starred for Ryde’s bowlers, taking 5-29 as Purbrook fell well short of the target, finishing on 182-9.