SPL Division Three cricket: Returning four-wicket Waller leads Sway to victory against Gosport Borough

SPL Division Three
Gosport Borough CC 133
Sway CC 134-2

SWAY returned to winning ways to maintain their grip on second place after securing an eight-wicket win against Gosport Borough.

The return of opening bowlers Jon Waller (4-43) and Dave Steadman (2-34), plus a century partnership from Tim Noble and Greg Jones, proved more than enough to secure Sway a comfortable victory at Jubilee Fields.

After electing to bat, Gosport were never allowed to establish a significant partnership, and they were bowled out for a modest 133 in only the 26th over.

The chief destroyer was the swing bowler Waller, supported by Steadman, who took the first wicket, skittling Lee Harrop (6) at 16.

Waller then took the scalp of remaining opener Jayaram Jayaraj (31) before Scott Taylor, and Viv Richards followed for ducks.

After that, only four batsmen reached double figures, with the rapid pace of Hugh Bernard (1-23) not allowing Borough to settle.

When Toby Ramwell caught hard-hitting St Lucian Tyrel Chicot (40) off Royal Marine Jon Grasham (3-28), the left-armer polished off the tail.

In contrast, the convincing Sway second-wicket pairing of 114 by opener Tim Noble and Greg Jones, successfully promoted to number three, shut out any chance of Gosport success.

The defensively sound Noble hit the boundary 13 times in his 66-run innings before being trapped LBW by Joe Williams just eight runs short of the target.

Partner Jones, an arrival from Bransgore this season, made the most of his opportunity with an array of impressive shots, finishing on 41 not out to lead Sway across the line.

Sway continue their SPL Division Three league campaign away on Saturday against Purbrook.