Goodey bowling performance propels Bashley top of premier league

Southern Premier League: Basingstoke & North Hants 121 v 125-6 Bashley (Rydal) (Bashley CC win by four wickets)

OPENING bowlers Dan Goodey and Bradley Currie made light work of Basingstoke & North Hants as the Bashley CC tandem took nine wickets between them to restrict the visitors to 121 in their four-wicket victory at the BCG that sends them top of the Southern Premier League.

With groundsmen working their magic throughout the morning to get the game started on time, Bashley won the toss and elected to field.

It did not take long for the first breakthrough to come as captain Ben Thane’s forward defensive rolled back onto the stumps off Currie’s bowling. Currie continued his dominant spell as he removed opener Daniel Belcher and former Hampshire player David Griffiths in quick succession to leave Basingstoke 22-3.

Goodey backed up his bowling partner with several overs of blistering pace and swing. He rattled through the visitors batting order with 6-50 off his 18-over performance with three catches from wicketkeeper Tom Jacques.

Basingstoke’s lower order batsmen Thomas Allam (15) and Lawrence Benge (14) chipped in to push the score to 121 all out.

In reply, Bashley looked comfortable early on. Opening batsmen Ben Walker (23) and Timothy Taylor (6) were removed by Bradley Porteous and Allam with the score at 30-2, however Patrick Holly and captain Michael Porter steadied the innings with a 64-run third-wicket partnership.

Porter was dismissed for 34 and top scorer Holly (37) followed shortly after, but the damage was done as Bashley cruised to a four-wicket win after 29.1 overs.

The win puts Bashley joint top of the Southern Premier League with South Wilts and they will make the short journey to local rivals Lymington on Saturday.