Buoyant Bashley CC beat local rivals New Milton CC to stay top with two games remaining
Southern Prem / Div 1 (West): Bashley CC 273-6 vs New Milton CC 160.
BASHLEY CC’s fine form continued as they defeated local rivals New Milton CC by 113 runs to remain top of the table with just two games remaining.
The home side won the toss and chose to bat first. Bashley’s openers Tom Jacques and Alex Turner wasted no time with Jacques hitting two quick boundaries and scoring 17 runs off 23 balls before New Milton’s Ryan Beck caught him off a George Watts delivery.
Turner was then joined at the crease by left-handed batsman Ben Walker. The pair put together an excellent 155-run partnership for the second wicket before Turner was dismissed on 66 after a Lee Beck catch from a Dan Loader delivery.
Bashley skipper Michael Porter (30) was next to return to the pavilion after a superb caught-and-bowled from the ever-improving Campbell Golding which left the home side on 222-3. Walker’s innings finally came to an end on 89 runs off 81, including 11 fours, after Ryan Beck caught him off Joe Hall’s delivery. Almost immediately afterwards, New Milton’s Watts' fine delivery fooled Jacob Gordon (2) giving club stalwart Nick Garargo the catch.
Harry Fisher (20) fell next when Alexander Mills caught him off Hall. George Pardoe (22) and Josh Digby (1) added runs to the board before they declared on 273-6.
New Milton’s run chase got off to the worst start with opener Campbell Golding (0) returning to the pavilion for a duck after facing five balls. Opener Ryan Beck and Hall put on 37 runs for the next wicket before the latter was caught by Fisher off a Bradley Currie (5-22) ball. Ryan Beck (32) lost his wicket next when Pardoe bowled him.
A superb spell from Brad Currie secured the next three wickets for his side: former-Arnewood student Digby caught Ben Griffiths (1) before Lee Beck (11) and Jack Humphrey (0) were both bowled to leave New Milton trailing by 208 runs.
Dan Loader (24) and Alex Mills (19), who hit two spectacular sixes, put on 54 runs before Bashley’s Jacques caught Loader off Porter. Sam Crisp then caught Mills off Digby. New Milton’s top scorer Watts (57) was bowled by Digby before New Milton’s innings came to an end when Digby caught Gargaro (1) from a Porter delivery.
Bashley CC's final two matches are away against third-placed South Wilts CC and at home against second-placed Bournemouth CC as they attempt to finish as Southern Prem/Div 1 (West) champions.
