Bashley (Rydal) are top of the ECB Southern Premier League – for the first time in 11 years !
They dispossessed overnight leaders South Wilts from top spot with a resounding six-wicket win over the four-time champions.
It was the first time since the Luke Rochi era of the early 2000’s that Bashley had beaten South Wilts – and how ironic the Black Caps T20 star, who spent three of his formative seasons as a teenager at the club, should be at the BCG to watch them do it …
Bashley bowled South Wilts out for 156 and knocked off the runs, with new captain Michael Porter leading the way with an unbeaten 70
“I think it’s fair to say we outplayed them in all departments,” beamed the 21-year old, who eased the New Forest club to a fourth straight Time pennant win.
Bashley got an unexpected first use of the new ball – James Hayward soon rueing his decision to bat as South Wilts slumped to 38-4.
Experienced due Kevin Nash (2-38) and left-armer Andy Neal (2-24) exploited the damp, bowler friendly conditions.
Nash, fresh from his six-wicket haul against Ventnor the previous week, bowled South Australia prospect Jake Winter (13), pictured above, and trapped Jack Mynott (4) in quick succession.
Eddie Abel (15) rode his luck, being dropped off the first ball of the game and then giving Bashley several more chances before Josh Digby gobbled up a good catch.
When Neal trapped Joe Cranch leg before with his very next ball, South Wilts really were in trouble at 38-4 and limped into lunch facing their first defeat of the season against an upbeat Bashley side smelling a prize scalp.
Explaining his surprise decision to bat first after winning the toss, Hayward said: “The wicket was a little damp, but we always try to play positively and aren't going to start making excuses about the pitch.”
Teenager William Wade (21) and Hayward (20) ground out another 22 runs before the captained played across a straight delivery from Sam Thomson, who was bursting with confidence after his 11-wicket haul from Dorset’s Minor Counties Championship win over Cheshire.
It was left to James Hibberd to steady the South Wilts ship after that.
The all-rounded added 40, initially with Wade, then another 40 with Rob Franklin (22) to lift flagging South Wilts spirits and the total to 140-6.
But, unlike in recent games with Havant and Burridge there was no escape route for South Wilts as Simon Watkins (3-23) dismissed all three batsmen before Digby (2-16) concluded the innings at 156.
Hayward lamented: “We batted poorly with plenty of starts but no one applied themselves and batted through.
“You can't get big scores if one of your top five5 doesn't score above 20, unfortunately.
“We knew 156 was under par but we thought if we can get some early wickets then you never know.”
South Wilts did indeed get early wickets – Hibberd (2-20) accounting for Tom Gates (5) with a ‘jaffa’ of a delivery and then bowling Dorset’s Tom Jacques (4).
Simon Ridley (16) steadied things, but it was the partnership between Porter and Gavin Bailiff which ended any threat of South Wilts’ pulling off another Houdini win.
Porter, who is relishing the extra responsibility captaincy duties bring, looks a far more compact and confident player and the crease and he hit nine fours in a 115-ball unbroken stay at the crease which won the game for Bashley.
The West Australia-based Bailiff, back with the club where he cut his teeth as a teenager, was always looking to play aggressive shots and, with more than a glancing eye at the threatening rain bearing clouds skirting the ground, struck a positive 49.
Bashley did suffer the inconvenience of one rain stop, but the sun broke through as Porter hit his ninth four through extra-cover to clinch a thoroughly deserved victory.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my captaincy role. The previous best season I’ve had in the SPL was when I skipper Hampshire Under-17s and that’s my fourth fifty-plus score so I’m pretty pleased with that,” he smiled.
They dispossessed overnight leaders South Wilts from top spot with a resounding six-wicket win over the four-time champions.
It was the first time since the Luke Rochi era of the early 2000’s that Bashley had beaten South Wilts – and how ironic the Black Caps T20 star, who spent three of his formative seasons as a teenager at the club, should be at the BCG to watch them do it …
Bashley bowled South Wilts out for 156 and knocked off the runs, with new captain Michael Porter leading the way with an unbeaten 70
“I think it’s fair to say we outplayed them in all departments,” beamed the 21-year old, who eased the New Forest club to a fourth straight Time pennant win.
Bashley got an unexpected first use of the new ball – James Hayward soon rueing his decision to bat as South Wilts slumped to 38-4.
Experienced due Kevin Nash (2-38) and left-armer Andy Neal (2-24) exploited the damp, bowler friendly conditions.
Nash, fresh from his six-wicket haul against Ventnor the previous week, bowled South Australia prospect Jake Winter (13), pictured above, and trapped Jack Mynott (4) in quick succession.
Eddie Abel (15) rode his luck, being dropped off the first ball of the game and then giving Bashley several more chances before Josh Digby gobbled up a good catch.
When Neal trapped Joe Cranch leg before with his very next ball, South Wilts really were in trouble at 38-4 and limped into lunch facing their first defeat of the season against an upbeat Bashley side smelling a prize scalp.
Explaining his surprise decision to bat first after winning the toss, Hayward said: “The wicket was a little damp, but we always try to play positively and aren't going to start making excuses about the pitch.”
Teenager William Wade (21) and Hayward (20) ground out another 22 runs before the captained played across a straight delivery from Sam Thomson, who was bursting with confidence after his 11-wicket haul from Dorset’s Minor Counties Championship win over Cheshire.
It was left to James Hibberd to steady the South Wilts ship after that.
The all-rounded added 40, initially with Wade, then another 40 with Rob Franklin (22) to lift flagging South Wilts spirits and the total to 140-6.
But, unlike in recent games with Havant and Burridge there was no escape route for South Wilts as Simon Watkins (3-23) dismissed all three batsmen before Digby (2-16) concluded the innings at 156.
Hayward lamented: “We batted poorly with plenty of starts but no one applied themselves and batted through.
“You can't get big scores if one of your top five5 doesn't score above 20, unfortunately.
“We knew 156 was under par but we thought if we can get some early wickets then you never know.”
South Wilts did indeed get early wickets – Hibberd (2-20) accounting for Tom Gates (5) with a ‘jaffa’ of a delivery and then bowling Dorset’s Tom Jacques (4).
Simon Ridley (16) steadied things, but it was the partnership between Porter and Gavin Bailiff which ended any threat of South Wilts’ pulling off another Houdini win.
Porter, who is relishing the extra responsibility captaincy duties bring, looks a far more compact and confident player and the crease and he hit nine fours in a 115-ball unbroken stay at the crease which won the game for Bashley.
The West Australia-based Bailiff, back with the club where he cut his teeth as a teenager, was always looking to play aggressive shots and, with more than a glancing eye at the threatening rain bearing clouds skirting the ground, struck a positive 49.
Bashley did suffer the inconvenience of one rain stop, but the sun broke through as Porter hit his ninth four through extra-cover to clinch a thoroughly deserved victory.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying my captaincy role. The previous best season I’ve had in the SPL was when I skipper Hampshire Under-17s and that’s my fourth fifty-plus score so I’m pretty pleased with that,” he smiled.