Bournemouth spin all-rounder James Hands [pictured] and Hungerford’s Toby Radford etched their names into the record books by becoming the first players to score centuries in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League, which debuted on 6 May 2000.
Hands made 103 and shared a 143-run opening partnership with South African Mike Stonier (55) in Bournemouth’s 76-run win at Cove, who had joined the SPL from the Thames Valley League. Radford made 109 in Hungerford’s emphatic 106-run victory against visiting Burridge at the War Memorial Ground.
Bournemouth posted 239-6 before dismissing Cove for 163, left-armer Mark Ligermoet taking 3-39 after Hampshire left-hand prospect Jimmy Adams (35) top scored for the North Hampshire hosts.
Hands, a top order batsman and left-arm spin bowler, was already established in Cornwall’s Minor Counties side when he began a three-year stint at Bournemouth University, where (for a spot of pocket money to supplement the odd night out) he operated the popular giant helium balloon in the Winter Gardens. He subsequently moved to Blackheath, where took a cool 394 scalps, a total only surpassed by Andover’s Andy Hooper, with 436. He captained Blackheath for three seasons, taking the club to the 2007 Evening Standard Cup final at The Oval and subsequently played a significant part in the North Kent club’s ECB Royal London Cup triumph in 2015, taking 22 competition wickets for only 126 runs off 61 overs !
Hands made 103 and shared a 143-run opening partnership with South African Mike Stonier (55) in Bournemouth’s 76-run win at Cove, who had joined the SPL from the Thames Valley League. Radford made 109 in Hungerford’s emphatic 106-run victory against visiting Burridge at the War Memorial Ground.
Bournemouth posted 239-6 before dismissing Cove for 163, left-armer Mark Ligermoet taking 3-39 after Hampshire left-hand prospect Jimmy Adams (35) top scored for the North Hampshire hosts.
Hands, a top order batsman and left-arm spin bowler, was already established in Cornwall’s Minor Counties side when he began a three-year stint at Bournemouth University, where (for a spot of pocket money to supplement the odd night out) he operated the popular giant helium balloon in the Winter Gardens. He subsequently moved to Blackheath, where took a cool 394 scalps, a total only surpassed by Andover’s Andy Hooper, with 436. He captained Blackheath for three seasons, taking the club to the 2007 Evening Standard Cup final at The Oval and subsequently played a significant part in the North Kent club’s ECB Royal London Cup triumph in 2015, taking 22 competition wickets for only 126 runs off 61 overs !
Toby Radford [left] played for both Sussex and Middlesex before linking up with Hungerford, whom he helped in the last Southern League championship in 1999.
His 109 underpinned Hungerford’s 225-7 (Steve Wyatt 51) against Burridge, who rolled over for 133 (Neil Cunningham 46), South African David Pryke returning 4-22. Toby Radford is currently the West Indies batting coach.
Arguably the top billing of round 1 would have been Havant’s 18-run win over Totton & Eling.
The two sides were to dominate the SPL in the ensuring years. Andy Perry made 85 of Havant’s 225-7, while Ian Atkins (48) got Totton’s reply off to a flier. Damian Shirazi (42) gave support, while Terry Rawlins added 35 to his earlier 3-30 return with the ball. Phil Loat (3-49) prospered in Totton’s 207-7.
Mark Miller (97) and Ian Landgown (56) shared a century stand as Andover piled up a mighty 293-3 at Bemerton, where Roger Miller (48) and Jeremy Hayward (40) also pitched in. George Allpress made an unbeaten 56 as South Wilts made 186-6 before the rains came.
The match between Calmore Sports and Bashley (Rydal) was postponed due to a waterlogged Loperwood Park pitch.
Top Marks
Matthew Keech, the former Hampshire & Middlesex IIs player (now involved at Canford School), hit 113 of United Services’ 232-6 against Division 1 visitors Lymington, who were dismissed for 171. Zac Morris, at that time on the County Ground staff, made 47 after taking 3-37. US opening bowler Guy Lewis (now in Australia) took 4-29.
City neighbours Portsmouth also prospered, with Hampshire’s Lawrie Prittipaul (79) and policeman Jeff Pike (73) leading a 287-9 run charge against Liphook & Ripsley (161-9), for whom South African Steve Riley Made 54.
Paul Marks led the way with 85 as Winchester KS scored 184-8, but then stepped aside to let Raj Naik take centre stage at Stoneham Lane, the little Indian all-rounder taking 5-23 as Trojans fell to 80 all out.
Ian Tulk’s 89 pointed OTs & Romsey to 183-7 against Hambledon, who spun out for 175 (Norris 43), principally by Nick Wood (4-38).
Hursley Park v Alton fell to the elements.
His 109 underpinned Hungerford’s 225-7 (Steve Wyatt 51) against Burridge, who rolled over for 133 (Neil Cunningham 46), South African David Pryke returning 4-22. Toby Radford is currently the West Indies batting coach.
Arguably the top billing of round 1 would have been Havant’s 18-run win over Totton & Eling.
The two sides were to dominate the SPL in the ensuring years. Andy Perry made 85 of Havant’s 225-7, while Ian Atkins (48) got Totton’s reply off to a flier. Damian Shirazi (42) gave support, while Terry Rawlins added 35 to his earlier 3-30 return with the ball. Phil Loat (3-49) prospered in Totton’s 207-7.
Mark Miller (97) and Ian Landgown (56) shared a century stand as Andover piled up a mighty 293-3 at Bemerton, where Roger Miller (48) and Jeremy Hayward (40) also pitched in. George Allpress made an unbeaten 56 as South Wilts made 186-6 before the rains came.
The match between Calmore Sports and Bashley (Rydal) was postponed due to a waterlogged Loperwood Park pitch.
Top Marks
Matthew Keech, the former Hampshire & Middlesex IIs player (now involved at Canford School), hit 113 of United Services’ 232-6 against Division 1 visitors Lymington, who were dismissed for 171. Zac Morris, at that time on the County Ground staff, made 47 after taking 3-37. US opening bowler Guy Lewis (now in Australia) took 4-29.
City neighbours Portsmouth also prospered, with Hampshire’s Lawrie Prittipaul (79) and policeman Jeff Pike (73) leading a 287-9 run charge against Liphook & Ripsley (161-9), for whom South African Steve Riley Made 54.
Paul Marks led the way with 85 as Winchester KS scored 184-8, but then stepped aside to let Raj Naik take centre stage at Stoneham Lane, the little Indian all-rounder taking 5-23 as Trojans fell to 80 all out.
Ian Tulk’s 89 pointed OTs & Romsey to 183-7 against Hambledon, who spun out for 175 (Norris 43), principally by Nick Wood (4-38).
Hursley Park v Alton fell to the elements.
Richard Edwards 6-22 v Purbrook [The News]
Nipping the ball about off the seam and generally bowling stump-to-stump, Richard Edwards produced a league best 6-26 as Gosport Borough routed Division 3 rivals Purbrook for 81 (Brendan Regan 3-30) before Aussie Scott Croker’s 44 not out completed a six-wicket win at The Heath.
OTs & Romsey II were pipped by one wicket in a low scoring Division 3 thriller at the BCG, where Mike May hit an unbeaten 53 for the visitors. Joe Hall weighed in with 3-41 as OTs were pegged to 135-7 in a 46-over affair. Bashley lost nine wickets getting home after inroads created by Mukesh Morjaria (4-36) and Paul Longland (3-28).
Australian bat maker Sam Millar, who piles his trade for Overton in County 3 North nowadays, hit 68 and shared a century partnership with fellow Aussie Lee Sorfleet (57) as Old Basing piled up 231-8 against Hook & Newnham Basics, who waved the white flag as they sank to 60 all out (Keith Lovelock 25) and a thumping 171-run defeat. Millar then took 3-24.
More Aussies were to the fore as Rowledge and Waterlooville tasted victory over Paultons (by five wickets) and New Milton, respectively. Glen Tisdale’s 6-16 spell saw Paultons skittled for 77, while Paul Tomasi hit 78 as the Ville passed Milton’s 127 (Steve Watts 36) after a tidy 4-15 spell by Dave Oliver.
Tim Richings made an unbeaten 50 as Sparsholt got past Portsmouth II’s rain trimmed 185 (James Scott 43*) by seven wickets, while rain spared St Cross Symondians from certain defeat against Leckford. They had lurched to 55-6 (chasing 187) when the rains came. Mike Howard made 36 and took 3-17 for the Test Valley side.
No such joy for Lymington II, who were rolled over for 58 and thrashed by nine wickets by Easton & Martyr Worthy, for whom Andy Birch hit 45 to complete the formalities.
OTs & Romsey II were pipped by one wicket in a low scoring Division 3 thriller at the BCG, where Mike May hit an unbeaten 53 for the visitors. Joe Hall weighed in with 3-41 as OTs were pegged to 135-7 in a 46-over affair. Bashley lost nine wickets getting home after inroads created by Mukesh Morjaria (4-36) and Paul Longland (3-28).
Australian bat maker Sam Millar, who piles his trade for Overton in County 3 North nowadays, hit 68 and shared a century partnership with fellow Aussie Lee Sorfleet (57) as Old Basing piled up 231-8 against Hook & Newnham Basics, who waved the white flag as they sank to 60 all out (Keith Lovelock 25) and a thumping 171-run defeat. Millar then took 3-24.
More Aussies were to the fore as Rowledge and Waterlooville tasted victory over Paultons (by five wickets) and New Milton, respectively. Glen Tisdale’s 6-16 spell saw Paultons skittled for 77, while Paul Tomasi hit 78 as the Ville passed Milton’s 127 (Steve Watts 36) after a tidy 4-15 spell by Dave Oliver.
Tim Richings made an unbeaten 50 as Sparsholt got past Portsmouth II’s rain trimmed 185 (James Scott 43*) by seven wickets, while rain spared St Cross Symondians from certain defeat against Leckford. They had lurched to 55-6 (chasing 187) when the rains came. Mike Howard made 36 and took 3-17 for the Test Valley side.
No such joy for Lymington II, who were rolled over for 58 and thrashed by nine wickets by Easton & Martyr Worthy, for whom Andy Birch hit 45 to complete the formalities.
