SPCL Division Two cricket: New Milton skipper Ed Bartlett turns the tide in victory over New Forest rivals Langley Manor

SPCL Division Two

New Milton CC 188-9

Langley Manor CC 145

NEW Milton made it two wins in a row after an excellent showing with the bat from skipper Ed Bartlett and a five-wicket haul from Ed Denham.

The New Milton captain won the toss and put his side into bat, and it looked like an intelligent plan, but after the first wicket fell, it triggered a near-terminal collapse.

Bartlett came to the fore with his side on the ropes, stubbornly getting the scoreboard ticking, adding 73 runs while remaining undefeated before Denham took five Langley Manor wickets at the cost of just 23 runs.

Green & Golds openers Joe Wooster (13) and 17-year-old Ollie Shrubsole (26) combined to get their side off to a decent start, but as the scoreboard registered the 42nd run, they both returned to the pavilion within three balls of each other.

Thaakier Davids (4) and Josh Parsons (1) both followed six runs later, courtesy of Langley Manor’s Tom Spencer (3-26), leaving New Milton on 48-4.

The bleeding showed no signs of stopping, with Lee Beck (1) and wicketkeeper Ed Wooster (7) soon falling.

With momentum firmly against his side, Bartlett entered the fray. With the help of Jamie Gawler (35), the skipper rebuilt the innings, adding 79 runs to the tally by the time Gawler fell to Jack Campbell (4-27).

Eventually, Bartlett ran out of time, leaving his side on 188-9 after 50 overs.

Langley Manor’s other successful bowler was Toby Green (2-24).

Manor’s innings followed a similar vein in reply, but their batsmen found success early before the collapse arrived.

Jack Budd was the pick of the hosts’ batters, firing off 10 fours and a six in a 66-run stand, while Conor Browne (28) and Steve Harris (26) helped bring the run tally to 130-3 before departing.

With the visitors in prime position, needing 58 runs to tie, none of the final eight batters passed the five-run mark as the final eight-wicket fell for a combined paltry 15 runs.

New Milton’s Ben Morris finished the day with two catches, while Denham’s five-wicket showing led the way.

Not far behind him, however, was Joe Hall (3-15), Thaakier Davids (1-19) and Bartlett (1-29).

New Milton travels to Lapstone Park to face Fair Oak on Saturday at 12.30pm.