A maiden Seniors’ century by Sparsholt’s Andy Worth paved the way for a comprehensive 189-run win over Wiltshire to secure Hampshire’s place at the top of Group 3 of the ECB 50-plus County Championship.
Inexplicably, Wiltshire invited Hampshire to bat on a good looking Marlborough batting deck. Openers Andy Giles (33) and Worth took full advantage putting on 122 for the first wicket before the classy Basingstoke man perished to the wiles of Army veteran Alan Lerwill (4-80).
Worth (110) battered his way to the Seniors’ first ton of the campaign before fatigue kicked in and he walked past a ball from Lerwill to be stumped.
The charge was now on as Andy Parratt (43) and Stu Shapland (26) plundered quick runs. Wiltshire strove manfully to contain Hampshire but the final 10 overs saw the scoring rate accelerate further as Keith Harsham (55*) and Andre Manders (38*) took the game beyond them at 329-5.
With the result virtually a foregone conclusion, Wiltshire were soon in trouble as Tim Wheatley and Nick Gargaro left them rocking on 11-2. Only skipper Beale (32) offered much resistance with wickets falling steadily. Neil Taylor (3-27) recorded the best bowling analysis with economical support from the rest of the attack as Wiltshire fell well short of their target at 140-9.
Inexplicably, Wiltshire invited Hampshire to bat on a good looking Marlborough batting deck. Openers Andy Giles (33) and Worth took full advantage putting on 122 for the first wicket before the classy Basingstoke man perished to the wiles of Army veteran Alan Lerwill (4-80).
Worth (110) battered his way to the Seniors’ first ton of the campaign before fatigue kicked in and he walked past a ball from Lerwill to be stumped.
The charge was now on as Andy Parratt (43) and Stu Shapland (26) plundered quick runs. Wiltshire strove manfully to contain Hampshire but the final 10 overs saw the scoring rate accelerate further as Keith Harsham (55*) and Andre Manders (38*) took the game beyond them at 329-5.
With the result virtually a foregone conclusion, Wiltshire were soon in trouble as Tim Wheatley and Nick Gargaro left them rocking on 11-2. Only skipper Beale (32) offered much resistance with wickets falling steadily. Neil Taylor (3-27) recorded the best bowling analysis with economical support from the rest of the attack as Wiltshire fell well short of their target at 140-9.
