George Metzger : all pictures by Ian Thacker
An unbeaten century by George Metzger paved the way to Basingstoke & North Hants pulling off one of the most remarkable wins in their long history.
Seven wickets down against high flying Bashley (Rydal) and with only 66 runs on the board, Basingstoke were facing a sixth defeat and the prospect of being bottom of the ECB Southern Premier League at the halfway stage.
But Metzger, with an SPL career-best 125 not out, masterminded an astonishing turnaround by featuring in two lower-order century partnerships which catapulted Basingstoke’s total to 311 all out.
Shell shocked, Bashley sank to 49-5 before Michael Porter’s 123 raised the visitors’ score to 233, giving Basingstoke an astonishing 78-run win.
The victory lifted Basingstoke, who have now made 300-plus scores in their last two matches, eighth place, 14 points ahead of Bournemouth’s potentially season-defining visit to May’s Bounty on Saturday, 11am.
Basingstoke’s top order batting is clearly vulnerable to the new ball, with Bashley seamers Dan Goodey (3-59) and George Wilson (3-68) doing the pre-lunch damage.
Maintaining his cool, Metzger watched batting partners come and go before adding 117 with eighth wicket colleague Matt Donaldson (64), immediately below. Basingstoke now a healthier 183-8.
Seven wickets down against high flying Bashley (Rydal) and with only 66 runs on the board, Basingstoke were facing a sixth defeat and the prospect of being bottom of the ECB Southern Premier League at the halfway stage.
But Metzger, with an SPL career-best 125 not out, masterminded an astonishing turnaround by featuring in two lower-order century partnerships which catapulted Basingstoke’s total to 311 all out.
Shell shocked, Bashley sank to 49-5 before Michael Porter’s 123 raised the visitors’ score to 233, giving Basingstoke an astonishing 78-run win.
The victory lifted Basingstoke, who have now made 300-plus scores in their last two matches, eighth place, 14 points ahead of Bournemouth’s potentially season-defining visit to May’s Bounty on Saturday, 11am.
Basingstoke’s top order batting is clearly vulnerable to the new ball, with Bashley seamers Dan Goodey (3-59) and George Wilson (3-68) doing the pre-lunch damage.
Maintaining his cool, Metzger watched batting partners come and go before adding 117 with eighth wicket colleague Matt Donaldson (64), immediately below. Basingstoke now a healthier 183-8.
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Loughborough student Ali Brown was bowled for a fourth ball duck before an even more remarkable stand, this time involving last man Abhijeet Saranath [above right] took Basingstoke into cricket dreamland.
While Metzger completed a 14-boundary century, Saranath (who seldom even makes double figure scores) blazed three sixes and four fours in a best ever 54 - the tenth wicket pair adding 127 !
"It was a serious knock from George. Faultless. Winning that game was one of the best moments of my time at May's Bounty," said Basingstoke skipper Matt Deadman.
Worse was to follow for Bashley, who were among the pre-season title favourites.
They buckled under pressure as Saranath (3-43) and Brad Neal (3-85) ran amok.
Captain Porter, who cleared the Bounty rope six times alongside hitting 13 fours, stopped the rot in a near-century stand with James Trodd (34).
But he largely fought a lone battle as Bashley tried to fathom out what had gone wrong …
"Honestly, I'm lost for words," Porter confessed. "We thought it would be an early finish and, unfortunately, I think we took the foot off the gas. Then they came out and got a bit of luck but, in general, batted nicely and got a score which was always going to be too big.
"It was a quality innings from George, I have to say.
"There was very little application when we batted. It was very frustrating - something we need to address ahead of Saturday's visit to table toppers Lymington."
While Metzger completed a 14-boundary century, Saranath (who seldom even makes double figure scores) blazed three sixes and four fours in a best ever 54 - the tenth wicket pair adding 127 !
"It was a serious knock from George. Faultless. Winning that game was one of the best moments of my time at May's Bounty," said Basingstoke skipper Matt Deadman.
Worse was to follow for Bashley, who were among the pre-season title favourites.
They buckled under pressure as Saranath (3-43) and Brad Neal (3-85) ran amok.
Captain Porter, who cleared the Bounty rope six times alongside hitting 13 fours, stopped the rot in a near-century stand with James Trodd (34).
But he largely fought a lone battle as Bashley tried to fathom out what had gone wrong …
"Honestly, I'm lost for words," Porter confessed. "We thought it would be an early finish and, unfortunately, I think we took the foot off the gas. Then they came out and got a bit of luck but, in general, batted nicely and got a score which was always going to be too big.
"It was a quality innings from George, I have to say.
"There was very little application when we batted. It was very frustrating - something we need to address ahead of Saturday's visit to table toppers Lymington."
Michael Porter battling century
