Pre-season build-up: Sway CC and Calmore Sport CC clinch winning pre-season starts over Fawley CC and Fareham & Crofton CC ahead of Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) season

james.henley@advertiserandtimes.co.uk

Published: 12:28, 15 April 2025

Australian Thor Harradine and Tom Richards, the former Hythe & Dibden captain, marked their respective Sway debuts with half-centuries in the 110-run pre-season warm-up win against a Fawley side at Holbury.

Harradine, who plays in the same Newcastle NSW grade competition as Sparsholt’s Joe Merlino and Fair Oak-bound spin all-rounder Connor Gibson, made 52 and shared a 136-run stand with Richards, who scored 67, writes Mike Vimpany.

Sway's David Steadman will continue as captain (File picture: Andrew Burton)

Another Hythe stalwart, Will Young, joined Sway, with Dave Steadman continuing as captain. Sway went on to make 238-7 (Jack Pinto 3-44) before dismissing Fawley for 128.

Liam O’Connor, who scored over 500 Southern Premier League Division One runs for Calmore Sports in 2023, has returned to Loperwood Park for a second season.

Liam O'Connor will return for Calmore Sports this year (File picture: Martin Hornet)

The Casey South Melbourne spin all-rounder marked his UK comeback by scoring an unbeaten 70 in the comfortable 138-run win over a Fareham & Crofton side at Bath Lane.

He shared a century stand with Callum Greasley (51) as Calmore totalled 244-5 (Oli Hibberd 32) before Matt Morgan (3-20) scattered Fareham’s top order. They were 106 all out.

Cricket James Henley