Fetch that ! Tom Friend blasts a huge six high over the Chapel Gate practice nets. [James Robinson]
Bashley (Rydal) broke open the celebratory champagne after Tom Friend’s powerful and unbeaten 84 set up a five-wicket victory over Bournemouth to clinch a maiden ECB Southern Premier League title.
Runners-up two seasons ago, Bashley got home with eight balls to spare, having slipped from 96-1 to 144-5 in pursuit of Bournemouth’s competitive 238-5.
That’s when Friend, the former Ventnor all-rounder, rose to the fore to sweep Bashley back on their championship course with an unbroken 96-run partnership with George Wilson (35 not out) playing a key support role.
The run chase had begun positively with skipper Michael Porter (32) sharing useful stands with Tom Jacques (25) and Ben Walker (30), but Bashley lost four wickets for 48 runs to put the game back in the balance. Spinner Robbie Pack returned a tidy 2-22.
Friend announced his intentions by firing a straight six high and deep over the Chapel Gate sightscreen and dominated from there.
Runners-up two seasons ago, Bashley got home with eight balls to spare, having slipped from 96-1 to 144-5 in pursuit of Bournemouth’s competitive 238-5.
That’s when Friend, the former Ventnor all-rounder, rose to the fore to sweep Bashley back on their championship course with an unbroken 96-run partnership with George Wilson (35 not out) playing a key support role.
The run chase had begun positively with skipper Michael Porter (32) sharing useful stands with Tom Jacques (25) and Ben Walker (30), but Bashley lost four wickets for 48 runs to put the game back in the balance. Spinner Robbie Pack returned a tidy 2-22.
Friend announced his intentions by firing a straight six high and deep over the Chapel Gate sightscreen and dominated from there.
George Wilson steers the ball into the covers [James Robinson]
Bournemouth tried unsuccessfully to stem Friend’s assault by ‘softening’ the ball by bouncing it around the 30-yard circle on its way back to the bowler – a tactic the panel umpires didn’t appear to spot.
Friend and Wilson carried on regardless by carrying Bashley over the physiological 200-run barrier and onwards to the victory target.
Friend struck the ball powerfully, hitting eight fours in addition to his three sixes, the last of which sailed high over the practice nets and into the car park. That effectively clinched it.
Wilson played his part too and has proved a useful addition to deepen Bashley’s batting line up.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park admitted Bashley were “deservedly champions” – they won 14 of their 16 games - but his side made them work for the victory they needed to secure an unassailable lead over 2018 winners St Cross Symondians at the top of the table
Park said: “We can be proud that twice this year we have competed with Bashley, who are deservedly champions, but for 95 per cent of the time I thought we were going to win.
“We had them five down but Tom Friend batted lovely for 30 overs, took it right to the end and hit a couple of big boundaries right when the pressure was mounting.”
Lions earlier reached 105 before losing opener Nick Park (47). Tom Robinson (52) and Adam Davies (3) then also fell to the left-arm spin bowling of Ross Grierson (3-33) before Luke Matthews (73) and Simon Woodruff (40) helped propel Bournemouth to 238-5.
Friend and Wilson carried on regardless by carrying Bashley over the physiological 200-run barrier and onwards to the victory target.
Friend struck the ball powerfully, hitting eight fours in addition to his three sixes, the last of which sailed high over the practice nets and into the car park. That effectively clinched it.
Wilson played his part too and has proved a useful addition to deepen Bashley’s batting line up.
Bournemouth captain Chris Park admitted Bashley were “deservedly champions” – they won 14 of their 16 games - but his side made them work for the victory they needed to secure an unassailable lead over 2018 winners St Cross Symondians at the top of the table
Park said: “We can be proud that twice this year we have competed with Bashley, who are deservedly champions, but for 95 per cent of the time I thought we were going to win.
“We had them five down but Tom Friend batted lovely for 30 overs, took it right to the end and hit a couple of big boundaries right when the pressure was mounting.”
Lions earlier reached 105 before losing opener Nick Park (47). Tom Robinson (52) and Adam Davies (3) then also fell to the left-arm spin bowling of Ross Grierson (3-33) before Luke Matthews (73) and Simon Woodruff (40) helped propel Bournemouth to 238-5.
 Luke Matthews joins the six-hitting set .. with George Wilson on the receiving end. [James Robinson] |  Tom Robinson cuts .. in full view of his dad's camera ! |
