Sizzling Sway storm into second after thrashing Basingstoke & North Hants II

SPL Division Three
Sway CC 325-8
Basingstoke & North Hants CC II 129

SWAY continue to thrive in their first season in Southern Premier League cricket, marching into second place thanks to a fine 196-run home win over Basingstoke & North Hants seconds.

An extraordinary 127 from David Steadman and 72 from Will Crossley helped set an imposing 325 target. However, the hosts' heroics were far from done, with Hugh Bernard snatching four wickets in the one-sided win.

With Sway rocking at 2-2 after losing skipper Tim Noble (1) and Jon Grasham (0), Crossley and Steadman set up camp, adding a sublime 188 runs for the second wicket.

When the former finally succumbed, Basingstoke & North Hants' misery was far from over, with Bernard (63) and Steadman sharing a 43-run stand to take the score to 233-4.

Sway saw out their overs to finish on 325 thanks to the valuable contributions of Greg Jones (22) and Oscar Marshall (15).

The hosts had the wind in their sails, and their cause was helped further by Jon Waller (2-37), who took the first two wickets, bowling Laurence Benge before having Chris Froud caught by Steadman to leave the visitors on 35-2.

With Basingstoke on 102-4, Bernard tore through the middle order, snaring four wickets for 24 runs to reduce the besieged opposition to 124-8. His victim list included Josh Coombs (23), Mathew Thankachan (8), Harry Smith (0) and Tyler Bradley (1).

Ultimately, Basingstoke fell 196 runs short, with the other wicket-takers Neil Prince (2-5), Tobias Ramwell (1-27) and Steadman (1-27).

Sway will look to continue their impressive form when they take on Paultons away from home on Saturday at 12.30pm.