Newly-appointed permanent skipper James Park hailed as “perfect” New Milton’s 176-run mauling of Totton & Eling.
Park who took the captain’s role on a full-time basis following the resignation of Ryan Beck last week, steered the Green and Golds to their fourth Southern Electric Premier League victory out of four at Southern Gardens, writes the Bournemouth Echo’s Ned Payne.
New Milton stormed to 279 which included an unbeaten knock of 95 from Park, before the visitors dismissed their opponents for a meagre 103.
And the jubilant skipper was left purring at the display of all 11 of his players in the Division One clash.
He said: “Everything went right from the moment we won the toss. It was pretty much the perfect performance.
“The two lads at the top put on 60-odd off about 12 or 13 overs and even after Mark House retired due to sickness and James Haggaty was out, we never looked back.
“I don’t have too much to say about my own performance because I’m not too interested in personal milestones but from a team perspective, it was perfect.
“I dread to think how many we scored in the last 10 overs because there was some very good hitting.
“With the ball we took wickets up front again, which is all-important, and the wickets were shared about. We are setting high standards with the ball and in the field so that is ideal.
“We have a well-balanced side and loads of experience in there so I see no reason why we cannot maintain our form.
“I have settled into the role of captain and the boys are fully behind me so I can’t ask for much more than that. Hopefully, things will continue in the right direction both on and off the field.”
Although Park stole the show with the bat, there were sizeable contributions from Haggaty (49), Toby Edwards (33), House (32) and Lee Beck, whose 31 not out included some monster sixes.
The latter impressed with the ball with figures of 2-13 in his five overs, while Nick Gargaro (3-9) tormented the mid and lower orders.
Totton skipper Richard Dibden reflected: “It was obviously an extremely disappointing batting performance (by us) on a good pitch.
“New Milton batted well and kept wickets in hand which allowed a very strong finish to their innings. We needed a solid start to our reply but were never in it.”
Mitchell Stokes was the inspiration as Basingstoke and North Hants maintained their 100 per cent start to their Southern Electric Premier League Division One campaign with 150-run victory at Rowledge.
They posted their highest total of the season so far 286-8 - one-time Hampshire t20 pinch hitter Stokes leading the way with a 117-ball 139 which included 16 fours and five sixes, writes Mike Vimpany.
"He was far too good for us. Simple as that," conceded Rowledge skipper David Lloyd.
He was backed up by an excellent 81 from Dean Nurse.
Rowledge were soon in trouble as opening Bountymen bowlers Martyn James (4-12) and Graham Porter (3-35) reduced the home side to 11-4.
Stokes (3-20) completed a great day as he took out some of the lower order as Rowledge were bowled out for 136, tail-end duo Richard Forbes (40) and Jake Wish (36) sparing their blushes.
Neighbours Hook & Newnham Basics also went on a run spree, chasing down a sizeable Andover total of 269-5 to win by six wickets with seven balls to spare.
Dave Taylor’s unbeaten 115, which included five sixes and 11 fours, lifted the Lions from 96-3 (Ali Hooper 55) to 269 (Mark Souter 30).
Openers Ben Thane (24) and Kieran Thomson (26) got Hook off to a good start as they put on 46 for the first wicket.
Matt Love (46) and the superb Nick Willcock (92) then added 95 before Matt Buckingham plundered 64 (3 x 6s and six 4s) off 36 balls.
But Willcock’s excellent 89-ball knock saw him hit three sixes and eight fours to take Hook to the brink of a fourth straight victory. [Basingstoke Gazette]
Australian Aaron Wivell’s six-laden knock of 98 helped an under-strength Hartley Wintney to their first win of the season in Southern Electric Premier Division One.
The village side’s overseas player smashed a total of seven sixes before getting out just two runs short of reaching a century against Calmore Sports.
It was a vital knock. Having been put in to bat, Hartley were struggling badly at 22-3, but Wivell and Danny Flanders (41) shared a partnership worth 132 for the fourth wicket to put the hosts in the driving seat.
Wivell took the lead, attacking the short boundary at the village green to great effect as he raced towards 100. He didn’t quite get there, caught out by a fielder on the long on boundary for 98, but having taken his side to 154-4 after just 27 overs, the Australian had changed the course of the game.
Hartley were unable to really build on the platform Wivell had built, adding only a further 101 runs in the remaining 23 overs, but a total of 255 certainly gave them something to defend.
Calmore got off to a good start with the bat, but three quick wickets stopped them in their tracks and they were always struggling to keep up with the run-rate thereafter.
A fine partnership of 60 between James Rose (19) and the talented Michael West (34) briefly gave the visitors hope of an unlikely victory, but when both fell in quick succession, the game was up.
Both sides went into the game after a slow start to the season and having won the toss, the visitors chose to field first.
Hartley, missing key all-rounder Scott Baldwin, mixed up their batting line-up, with Chris Jolley promoted to a pinch-hitting opener.
However, he lost his partner, Simon Carter, in the opening over and after hitting a couple of fours, Jolley was next to depart, caught in the slips with the score on 15.
Captain Jamie Teale soon followed him back to the pavilion and Hartley looked in big trouble at 22-3 after just five overs.
It should have been 47-4 soon after, but Wivell was dropped by a Calmore fielder, a mistake that proved to be very costly as he and Danny Flanders forged an impressive partnership.
His innings had changed the game, but Hartley were unable to push on in the closing stages, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Will Ross (21) and Julian Ford (32) produced hard-hitting cameos to help Hartley beyond 250, but the game was very much in the balance when the innings came to an end, the hosts having posted 255.
Hartley began the game with a shortage of bowlers and their problems were exacerbated when Tommy Flanders pulled up with a rib injury after his first over.
Calmore openers Mark Lavelle (21) and Darren Vann (20) got the visitors off to a decent start, but after they were dismissed in consecutive overs, the innings stalled.
Jolley produced an excellent full delivery to dismiss Ben Perry for six soon after and while a fourth-wicket partnership of 77 between Ben Johns (34) and Callum Holloway (32) kept them in the game, they were behind the required run-rate.
Both were dismissed by the left-arm spin of Mark Teale (4-33) as they looked to take the game to Hartley and when Tommy Peglar was clean bowled by the same bowler with the final delivery of the 34th over, the visitors were in big trouble at 131-6.
That soon became 145-7, but Rose and West took advantage of Hartley’s part-time bowling attack to reduce the target to 54 from 36 balls with some hard hitting.
However, both fell in the 45th over, giving Wivell two wickets to add to his 98 runs, and the innings ended early as Tommy Flanders, bowling at half-pace, claimed the final wicket. [Basingstoke Gazette]
Bournemouth lived up to skipper Martin Miller’s exacting standards as they roared to an eight-wicket win over SPL1 basement dwellers Liphook & Ripsley.
The visitors elected to field first at Ripsley Park and dismissed their opponents for a paltry 104 in the 37th over, with 42 of those runs made by opener Richard Covey.
Paceman David Kidner continued his fine form with figures of three for 17 while Kiwi youngster Josh Finnie took three for nine and Mike Kitson claimed two victims.
The impressive Kitson (46*) and Finnie (10*) finished the job for Bournemouth in the 25th over after Miller and Andy Hayward opened with 17 and 16, respectively.
And Miller admitted that his team had performed well despite the absence of key players.
He said: “Everything came together very well. We were not at full strength so to get a win was pleasing. Generally, we did the basics very well and put pressure on them, and they weren’t able to put the pressure on that they needed to win the game. We bowled in really good areas. David Kidner continued his good work from last week and Mike Kitson and Josh Finnie bowled very well.
“Andy Hayward and I gave us a platform with the bat and Mike hit 47 so we were able to finish the game very early. I set very high standards for the team. We just have to keep playing well and if we’re at the top of our game then other teams are going to have to be better to beat us.”
Bournemouth quickly had their hosts in trouble at 20-2 after the experienced Kidner removed Rob Nicklin for eight and Giles Cover for a seventh-ball duck.
Kidner struck again as he trapped Richard Williams leg before wicket and Kitson caught and bowled both Harry Munt (1) and Chris Martin (0).
That left Liphook & Ripsley on the modest mark of 50 for five and despite the best efforts of Covey, he was dislodged by Finnie with the score on 82.
The hosts offered little further resistance with just 22 runs being put on for the last four wickets, as Finnie added a couple more wickets to his tally.
The reply was a thoroughly regulation affair with steady efforts from Miller and Hayward supplemented by heavy hitting from Kitson, which allowed Bournemouth to easily reach their target in the 24th over. [Bournemouth Echo]
Park who took the captain’s role on a full-time basis following the resignation of Ryan Beck last week, steered the Green and Golds to their fourth Southern Electric Premier League victory out of four at Southern Gardens, writes the Bournemouth Echo’s Ned Payne.
New Milton stormed to 279 which included an unbeaten knock of 95 from Park, before the visitors dismissed their opponents for a meagre 103.
And the jubilant skipper was left purring at the display of all 11 of his players in the Division One clash.
He said: “Everything went right from the moment we won the toss. It was pretty much the perfect performance.
“The two lads at the top put on 60-odd off about 12 or 13 overs and even after Mark House retired due to sickness and James Haggaty was out, we never looked back.
“I don’t have too much to say about my own performance because I’m not too interested in personal milestones but from a team perspective, it was perfect.
“I dread to think how many we scored in the last 10 overs because there was some very good hitting.
“With the ball we took wickets up front again, which is all-important, and the wickets were shared about. We are setting high standards with the ball and in the field so that is ideal.
“We have a well-balanced side and loads of experience in there so I see no reason why we cannot maintain our form.
“I have settled into the role of captain and the boys are fully behind me so I can’t ask for much more than that. Hopefully, things will continue in the right direction both on and off the field.”
Although Park stole the show with the bat, there were sizeable contributions from Haggaty (49), Toby Edwards (33), House (32) and Lee Beck, whose 31 not out included some monster sixes.
The latter impressed with the ball with figures of 2-13 in his five overs, while Nick Gargaro (3-9) tormented the mid and lower orders.
Totton skipper Richard Dibden reflected: “It was obviously an extremely disappointing batting performance (by us) on a good pitch.
“New Milton batted well and kept wickets in hand which allowed a very strong finish to their innings. We needed a solid start to our reply but were never in it.”
Mitchell Stokes was the inspiration as Basingstoke and North Hants maintained their 100 per cent start to their Southern Electric Premier League Division One campaign with 150-run victory at Rowledge.
They posted their highest total of the season so far 286-8 - one-time Hampshire t20 pinch hitter Stokes leading the way with a 117-ball 139 which included 16 fours and five sixes, writes Mike Vimpany.
"He was far too good for us. Simple as that," conceded Rowledge skipper David Lloyd.
He was backed up by an excellent 81 from Dean Nurse.
Rowledge were soon in trouble as opening Bountymen bowlers Martyn James (4-12) and Graham Porter (3-35) reduced the home side to 11-4.
Stokes (3-20) completed a great day as he took out some of the lower order as Rowledge were bowled out for 136, tail-end duo Richard Forbes (40) and Jake Wish (36) sparing their blushes.
Neighbours Hook & Newnham Basics also went on a run spree, chasing down a sizeable Andover total of 269-5 to win by six wickets with seven balls to spare.
Dave Taylor’s unbeaten 115, which included five sixes and 11 fours, lifted the Lions from 96-3 (Ali Hooper 55) to 269 (Mark Souter 30).
Openers Ben Thane (24) and Kieran Thomson (26) got Hook off to a good start as they put on 46 for the first wicket.
Matt Love (46) and the superb Nick Willcock (92) then added 95 before Matt Buckingham plundered 64 (3 x 6s and six 4s) off 36 balls.
But Willcock’s excellent 89-ball knock saw him hit three sixes and eight fours to take Hook to the brink of a fourth straight victory. [Basingstoke Gazette]
Australian Aaron Wivell’s six-laden knock of 98 helped an under-strength Hartley Wintney to their first win of the season in Southern Electric Premier Division One.
The village side’s overseas player smashed a total of seven sixes before getting out just two runs short of reaching a century against Calmore Sports.
It was a vital knock. Having been put in to bat, Hartley were struggling badly at 22-3, but Wivell and Danny Flanders (41) shared a partnership worth 132 for the fourth wicket to put the hosts in the driving seat.
Wivell took the lead, attacking the short boundary at the village green to great effect as he raced towards 100. He didn’t quite get there, caught out by a fielder on the long on boundary for 98, but having taken his side to 154-4 after just 27 overs, the Australian had changed the course of the game.
Hartley were unable to really build on the platform Wivell had built, adding only a further 101 runs in the remaining 23 overs, but a total of 255 certainly gave them something to defend.
Calmore got off to a good start with the bat, but three quick wickets stopped them in their tracks and they were always struggling to keep up with the run-rate thereafter.
A fine partnership of 60 between James Rose (19) and the talented Michael West (34) briefly gave the visitors hope of an unlikely victory, but when both fell in quick succession, the game was up.
Both sides went into the game after a slow start to the season and having won the toss, the visitors chose to field first.
Hartley, missing key all-rounder Scott Baldwin, mixed up their batting line-up, with Chris Jolley promoted to a pinch-hitting opener.
However, he lost his partner, Simon Carter, in the opening over and after hitting a couple of fours, Jolley was next to depart, caught in the slips with the score on 15.
Captain Jamie Teale soon followed him back to the pavilion and Hartley looked in big trouble at 22-3 after just five overs.
It should have been 47-4 soon after, but Wivell was dropped by a Calmore fielder, a mistake that proved to be very costly as he and Danny Flanders forged an impressive partnership.
His innings had changed the game, but Hartley were unable to push on in the closing stages, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Will Ross (21) and Julian Ford (32) produced hard-hitting cameos to help Hartley beyond 250, but the game was very much in the balance when the innings came to an end, the hosts having posted 255.
Hartley began the game with a shortage of bowlers and their problems were exacerbated when Tommy Flanders pulled up with a rib injury after his first over.
Calmore openers Mark Lavelle (21) and Darren Vann (20) got the visitors off to a decent start, but after they were dismissed in consecutive overs, the innings stalled.
Jolley produced an excellent full delivery to dismiss Ben Perry for six soon after and while a fourth-wicket partnership of 77 between Ben Johns (34) and Callum Holloway (32) kept them in the game, they were behind the required run-rate.
Both were dismissed by the left-arm spin of Mark Teale (4-33) as they looked to take the game to Hartley and when Tommy Peglar was clean bowled by the same bowler with the final delivery of the 34th over, the visitors were in big trouble at 131-6.
That soon became 145-7, but Rose and West took advantage of Hartley’s part-time bowling attack to reduce the target to 54 from 36 balls with some hard hitting.
However, both fell in the 45th over, giving Wivell two wickets to add to his 98 runs, and the innings ended early as Tommy Flanders, bowling at half-pace, claimed the final wicket. [Basingstoke Gazette]
Bournemouth lived up to skipper Martin Miller’s exacting standards as they roared to an eight-wicket win over SPL1 basement dwellers Liphook & Ripsley.
The visitors elected to field first at Ripsley Park and dismissed their opponents for a paltry 104 in the 37th over, with 42 of those runs made by opener Richard Covey.
Paceman David Kidner continued his fine form with figures of three for 17 while Kiwi youngster Josh Finnie took three for nine and Mike Kitson claimed two victims.
The impressive Kitson (46*) and Finnie (10*) finished the job for Bournemouth in the 25th over after Miller and Andy Hayward opened with 17 and 16, respectively.
And Miller admitted that his team had performed well despite the absence of key players.
He said: “Everything came together very well. We were not at full strength so to get a win was pleasing. Generally, we did the basics very well and put pressure on them, and they weren’t able to put the pressure on that they needed to win the game. We bowled in really good areas. David Kidner continued his good work from last week and Mike Kitson and Josh Finnie bowled very well.
“Andy Hayward and I gave us a platform with the bat and Mike hit 47 so we were able to finish the game very early. I set very high standards for the team. We just have to keep playing well and if we’re at the top of our game then other teams are going to have to be better to beat us.”
Bournemouth quickly had their hosts in trouble at 20-2 after the experienced Kidner removed Rob Nicklin for eight and Giles Cover for a seventh-ball duck.
Kidner struck again as he trapped Richard Williams leg before wicket and Kitson caught and bowled both Harry Munt (1) and Chris Martin (0).
That left Liphook & Ripsley on the modest mark of 50 for five and despite the best efforts of Covey, he was dislodged by Finnie with the score on 82.
The hosts offered little further resistance with just 22 runs being put on for the last four wickets, as Finnie added a couple more wickets to his tally.
The reply was a thoroughly regulation affair with steady efforts from Miller and Hayward supplemented by heavy hitting from Kitson, which allowed Bournemouth to easily reach their target in the 24th over. [Bournemouth Echo]