SPL Division One cricket: New Milton beat Sparsholt as Dan Loader takes six wickets

SPL Division One

Sparsholt CC 181

New Milton CC 186-4

NEW Milton secured back-to-back wins for the second time this season, thanks largely to a six-wicket haul from Dan Loader.

Loader led the way, decimating the visitors' middle order and tail for the cost of just 38 runs before an impressive showing from the New Milton batters secured a six-wicket win.

Sparsholt won the toss and elected to bat first, and their start justified that decision, quickly putting on 58 runs. However, once New Milton's Lee Beck (2-25) had Josh May (22) and Ollie Williams (0) caught by Ben Griffiths and Loader, the wickets came a little more easily.

Then Loader came to the fore, taking six of the next seven, most notable the dangerous opener Will Berrill (45), whom he trapped LBW, and Jeremy Frith (55).

Ryan Beck (1-33) took the seventh wicket when his fine delivery had Callum Doran (5) LBW, and captain George Watts (1-30) took the final wicket when he bowled Ian Berrill (1).

With a total of 181 to chase, New Milton opener Jo Wooster (0) got his side off to a terrible start when he was out on his third ball. After that, however, Ryan Beck (49) and Ben Griffiths (27) dispelled any notion of a collapse by marching toward a 71-run second-wicket partnership.

Beck followed Griffiths back to the pavilion 10 runs later after hitting seven fours and a six to leave New Milton on 81-3.

Toby Edwards (2) made a brief appearance, but he would be their last wicket lost after a match-winning 99-run partnership between Lee Beck (50 not out) and Ed Bartlett (47 not out) saw their side over the line with six wickets remaining.

New Milton will look to make it three wins in a row for the first time this season when they take on Liphook & Ripsley away from home on Saturday at 12.30pm.