Things just seem to go from bad to worse for Ellingham’s Hampshire League cricketers ...
Three weeks ago, they were skittled for seven (four of which were wides) by United Services at Portsmouth’s Burnaby Road.
It was the lowest total score ever recorded in the league’s 43-year history.
Against Shrewton seven days later, they improved immeasurably by making 289-8 – but still lost because the Wiltshire side had already posted a towering 303-8 !
But when Purbrook came visiting their Picket Post ground last weekend, it all went terribly wrong for Ellingham again – both with the bat and the ball.
They could only muster ten men, who spent a hot afternoon in the field, collecting the ball off the adjoining A31 or fishing it out of the New Forest heath and bracken as Purbrook smashed a huge 380-6.
John Moller hit a career-best 155, including three sixes and 23 fours.
Then, when it came to their turn to bat, Ellingham had no answer whatsoever to Purbrook pace bowler Aaron Dean, who clean bowled seven batsmen and went on to take all nine available wickets at a personal cost of 30 runs.
Ellingham were all out for 59, with Dean celebrating a career-best return.
Three weeks ago, they were skittled for seven (four of which were wides) by United Services at Portsmouth’s Burnaby Road.
It was the lowest total score ever recorded in the league’s 43-year history.
Against Shrewton seven days later, they improved immeasurably by making 289-8 – but still lost because the Wiltshire side had already posted a towering 303-8 !
But when Purbrook came visiting their Picket Post ground last weekend, it all went terribly wrong for Ellingham again – both with the bat and the ball.
They could only muster ten men, who spent a hot afternoon in the field, collecting the ball off the adjoining A31 or fishing it out of the New Forest heath and bracken as Purbrook smashed a huge 380-6.
John Moller hit a career-best 155, including three sixes and 23 fours.
Then, when it came to their turn to bat, Ellingham had no answer whatsoever to Purbrook pace bowler Aaron Dean, who clean bowled seven batsmen and went on to take all nine available wickets at a personal cost of 30 runs.
Ellingham were all out for 59, with Dean celebrating a career-best return.