Brockenhurst welcomed Ellingham to a humid Balmer Lawn and skipper Neil Harvey asked the visitors bat first. Openers Dodd and New looked composed, with New lofting Hardcastle for a boundary. When New tried to repeat the shot he was well caught by Andy Sque at cover point.
Dodd attacked Mark Lock's seamers striking a number of leg side boundaries. The wily Rafae Ahmed replaced Hardcastle and restricted the scoring with accurate off spin. Taylor (21) struck Lock powerfully for 6 but Ahmed tightened the screw with successive maidens until partner Dodd called a tight single. Dick Wickison threw the ball to keeper Greenwood who ran out Taylor by a couple of feet. Ahmed then bowled Alnutt-Small and Redfearn while Luke Hammond had Bagshot very well caught by Dixon. Sque bowled his left arm spin well - an economic 8 overs 1 for 30. Hammond missed a difficult return catch off his own bowling before completed an athletic caught and bowled a moment later. The excellent Mike Dodd had meanwhile accumulated through selective stroke play and eyeing a century, attacked Hardcastle who finally bowled him for a captain’s innings of 91. The Ellingham innings finished on 151-8.
In reply Brockenhurst faltered with Hugh Greenwood sportingly walking after a feather edge carried to the keeper and Dixon mistimed an off drive. Brock 11-2 off 4 overs! Opener Wickison was joined by Rafae and the pair put on 85 in quick time with Rafae’s lofted drives complemented by Wickison’s crisp stoke-play. Rafae reached 49 before falling lbw to Redfern. Experienced skipper Harvey helped boost the tally while Wickison fell for a stylish 47. Broad stroked a 4 through the covers but was bowled trying to pull a length ball. No such worries for Hardcastle who smashed a four and a six to take Brock to a 5 wicket victory.