ROWLEDGE maintained their push for promotion straight back to the Southern Premier League Division One with a crushing victory over third-placed Waterlooville.

Jake Wish, standing in as captain for older brother Ben Wish – currently in Australia and nursing a broken collarbone – won the toss and must have been delighted with his side’s batting display on a wicket freshened by rain.

The skipper himself went cheaply, but Ricky Yates and Sam Plater added 58 for the second wicket and then David Lloyd joined Yates in third-wicket partnership of 94.

The experienced pair dominated the visitors’ attack and at 157-2, Rowledge were well placed to bat Waterlooville out of the game.

However, Yates’ dismissal for a fine 80 and the return of opening bowlers Conor Regan and Sam Hillman heralded a flurry of wickets and although the home side batted into the 50th and last over, the total of 194 on basically a decent track looked a little under par.

But Rowledge’s new-ball bowlers soon had Waterlooville on the run. Wish led from the front, taking the first three wickets with only 25 runs on the board.

Richard Forbes picked up two wickets and with Wish claiming two more, the innings was in ruins at 37-7, four wickets having fallen for 12 runs.

The outstanding Wish finished with 5-12 off seven spellbinding overs and only a defiant 29 not out from Hillman gave the score a semblance of respectability before Steve Martin and George Keeley polished off the tail and Waterlooville were bowled out for 83 in 25 overs.

Rowledge are away to Basingstoke 2nd XI this Saturday.

• Hampshire County One leaders Hythe & Dibden amassed 332-3 against Rowledge II, with Tom Gates plundering 187 not out. Rowledge managed a respectable 191 in reply, but drop back into the bottom two.