Sway are stacking up the points in a relentless push for Division 1 honours – a seventh straight win at near neighbours Lymington taking their tally to 148 in all.
That’s 50 more than Havant (98 from five) and defending champions Parley (87 from four), who have both played less games.
Sway captain Tim Noble returned to haunt his former club, hitting an accomplished 61 on a damp Sports Centre track and helping the visitors make it seven wins from seven.
Having had to wait for an hour for the pitch to dry and been invited to bat first on a tricky surface, Noble (left) and Alex Hall (29) gave the visitors an excellent start.
Striking seven balls in his 114-ball knock, Noble was aided by cameos from Dave Steadman (11) and a fine 30 from Oscar Marshall before Hugh Bernard crushed two huge sixes on his merry way to a quick 16 and Will Crossley struck a maximum on his brief, unbeaten debut as Sway racked up 184-7, a decent total on the challenging surface but one that was not out of reach.
Sway soon set about Lymington’s top order, with Steadman (2-20) and Jon Waller (2-21) making early inroads.
Hugh Bernard (2-23) struck two important blows with two absolute beauties and Lymington looked out of it at 81-6, only for some uncharacteristically sloppy fielding and bowling – not helped by a wet ball – meaning the hosts got an outside sniff.
However, Dan Bailey (3-44) firmly shut the door on that, aided by a Hall stumping that removed top scorer Guy Layman (28), and Josh Bailey bowled nicely and claimed the last wicket as Sway ran out winners by 34 runs. Lymington were 152 all out.
Parley appeared on course for a fifth straight win when heavy drizzle caused their match with Fareham & Crofton to be called off at the 18-over break, with the visitors struggling at 57-4 and way behind a 155-run target.
Teen Marcus Bragginton (27) and Shane Green (28) provided a sound base for Parley, with Alex Nippard (31) and later Chris Williams (25) pushing the total towards 155, left-arm spinner Morgan Frost returning 3-19.
With the dangerous Dan Wimble gone for a second ball duck and three others back in the tent, Fareham were wobbling at 57-4 when the rains came. On paper, they didn’t appear to have the clout to chase down the target.
Although they were two overs away from a fifth win, Parley weren’t entirely unhappy as their average would have dropped – but the more points you get, the better your chances of taking titles.
Havant II are clearly a major threat to Sway and Parley, though pencil in July 24 and August 7 when they go head-to-head with the top two, significantly perhaps at Havant Park.
They made short work of duffing up St Cross Symondians III, whose team changes so frequently skipper Graham Barrett must be contemplating a pre-match bonding session.
With left-arm spinner Steven Matthews (4-14) and Mark Martin (3-23) doing the damage, St Cross fell to 74 all out (Kevin Neave 25) and an eventual seven-wicket defeat, Southern Premier League regular Harry Gadd helping himself to an unbeaten 40 after elated Kiwi Stephen Fryer had struck two early blows.
Old Basing, who surrendered their unbeaten start at Sway a week earlier, were rushed out for a meagre 47 by Alton II, for whom Derek Footit took 5-21.
Alton were earlier rocking at 47-5, but Andrew Pearce (41) and Michael Salmon (38) ensured the Brewers would make 152-6.
Longparish successfully defended 116 in rolling winless Compton & Chandler’s Ford out for 97, the visitors having been 51-2 at one stage. Chris Clarke (5-25) and young spinner Zac Allen (3-13) did the damage.
That’s 50 more than Havant (98 from five) and defending champions Parley (87 from four), who have both played less games.
Sway captain Tim Noble returned to haunt his former club, hitting an accomplished 61 on a damp Sports Centre track and helping the visitors make it seven wins from seven.
Having had to wait for an hour for the pitch to dry and been invited to bat first on a tricky surface, Noble (left) and Alex Hall (29) gave the visitors an excellent start.
Striking seven balls in his 114-ball knock, Noble was aided by cameos from Dave Steadman (11) and a fine 30 from Oscar Marshall before Hugh Bernard crushed two huge sixes on his merry way to a quick 16 and Will Crossley struck a maximum on his brief, unbeaten debut as Sway racked up 184-7, a decent total on the challenging surface but one that was not out of reach.
Sway soon set about Lymington’s top order, with Steadman (2-20) and Jon Waller (2-21) making early inroads.
Hugh Bernard (2-23) struck two important blows with two absolute beauties and Lymington looked out of it at 81-6, only for some uncharacteristically sloppy fielding and bowling – not helped by a wet ball – meaning the hosts got an outside sniff.
However, Dan Bailey (3-44) firmly shut the door on that, aided by a Hall stumping that removed top scorer Guy Layman (28), and Josh Bailey bowled nicely and claimed the last wicket as Sway ran out winners by 34 runs. Lymington were 152 all out.
Parley appeared on course for a fifth straight win when heavy drizzle caused their match with Fareham & Crofton to be called off at the 18-over break, with the visitors struggling at 57-4 and way behind a 155-run target.
Teen Marcus Bragginton (27) and Shane Green (28) provided a sound base for Parley, with Alex Nippard (31) and later Chris Williams (25) pushing the total towards 155, left-arm spinner Morgan Frost returning 3-19.
With the dangerous Dan Wimble gone for a second ball duck and three others back in the tent, Fareham were wobbling at 57-4 when the rains came. On paper, they didn’t appear to have the clout to chase down the target.
Although they were two overs away from a fifth win, Parley weren’t entirely unhappy as their average would have dropped – but the more points you get, the better your chances of taking titles.
Havant II are clearly a major threat to Sway and Parley, though pencil in July 24 and August 7 when they go head-to-head with the top two, significantly perhaps at Havant Park.
They made short work of duffing up St Cross Symondians III, whose team changes so frequently skipper Graham Barrett must be contemplating a pre-match bonding session.
With left-arm spinner Steven Matthews (4-14) and Mark Martin (3-23) doing the damage, St Cross fell to 74 all out (Kevin Neave 25) and an eventual seven-wicket defeat, Southern Premier League regular Harry Gadd helping himself to an unbeaten 40 after elated Kiwi Stephen Fryer had struck two early blows.
Old Basing, who surrendered their unbeaten start at Sway a week earlier, were rushed out for a meagre 47 by Alton II, for whom Derek Footit took 5-21.
Alton were earlier rocking at 47-5, but Andrew Pearce (41) and Michael Salmon (38) ensured the Brewers would make 152-6.
Longparish successfully defended 116 in rolling winless Compton & Chandler’s Ford out for 97, the visitors having been 51-2 at one stage. Chris Clarke (5-25) and young spinner Zac Allen (3-13) did the damage.
