Whitfield holds his nerve as Ville claim nail-biting SPL T20 success

Skipper Charlie Whitfield kept his nerve to give Waterlooville a dramatic Southern Premier League T20 win over Sarisbury.

- by Simon Carter

Teenager Henry Ainsworth needed two off the final ball to give the visitors a Rowlands Avenue success, but was instead bowled.

Ville’s win was particularly hard on Sarisbury’s opener Nathaniel Hlabangana.

The former Zimbabwean Under-19 international had dominated their replay as they chased 117 in the East group fixture.

He finished unbeaten on 75 off 62 balls, having shared a 39-run stand for the last wicket with Ainsworth.

Dylan Youngs (3-17) had struck twice in Sarisbury’s first over after they had been inserted, removing Dom Sampson and Nathan Feltham for ducks.

Feltham’s wicket was crucial, given his match-winning abilities - evident in the 2023 SPL T20 Plate final when he struck a blistering 91 not out (74 of them in boundaries) in Sarisbury’s 16-run win over Bashley.

Apart from Hlabangana, No 3 Joshua Williams (10) was the only other Sarisbury batter in double figures.