New Milton CC go down swinging against Sarisbury Athletic

Southern Division One: Sarisbury Athletic 316-6 v New Milton CC 218 (Sarisbury Athletic won by 98 runs)

NEW Milton CC skipper George Watts smashed 71* as his side slipped to a 98-run away defeat at Sarisbury Athletic.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat, and it proved to be the right decision as openers Sam Floyd and Tom Mills both surpassed the half-century mark in a 136-run opening partnership.

It proved to be a long day in the field for New Milton as Sarisbury piled on the runs in the sizzling heat.

Watts used seven bowlers to try to muster regular breakthroughs in the Sarisbury innings, but the hosts closed on 316-6 to make the run-chase an uphill challenge.

Spinner Dale Wakefield claimed the best figures of 1-10 while Steve Watts rolled back the years to bowl a steady 1-44 eight-over spell.

In response, New Milton did not hang around. Toby Edwards clattered 37 from 26 balls, and Ryan Beck added 16 from 11 balls. After the pair departed, Matthew Freeman rekindled his batting form as he made 32 before he was trapped LBW by Phillip Jewell.

George Watts came to the crease off the back of two big scores midweek and hit five fours and two sixes during his 71*.

However, Watts ran out of batting partners, condemning New Milton to 218 all out inside 40 overs and 98 runs short of their target.