Fetch that ! Bashley (Rydal) opener Jacob Gordon clears the Bemerton pavilion with a massive six [Roy Honeybone]
South Wilts were saved by the rain and a probable ECB Royal London Cup exit with only 14 balls of yesterday's national club championship first round tie against Bashley (Rydal) remaining when the heavens opened and the already delayed match against the Southern Premier League champions was washed out.
In a re-arranged tie already trimmed to a T20 format in a bid to beat an imminent rain storm, South Wilts were rocking at 30-4 in the wet and appeared to have little chance of overhauling Bashley’s 168-3.
But with ten overs needing to be bowled in the second innings to constitute a result, South Wilts – having batted only 7.4 overs - escaped defeat by the skin of their teeth.
South Wilts, fielding a seriously weakened side containing only three young 1st XI regulars, await a ruling from Lord’s about what happens next.
South Wilts, whose only completed Southern Premier Division game so far this season on May 1 resulted in a crushing nine-wicket defeat by Bashley (Rydal), found themselves under the cosh from visitors’ opening pair Alex Turner and Jacob Gordon in the game itself.
The pair piled up 117 for the first wicket, with Turner hitting 58 and Gordon 66 – before both fell, as did skipper Michael Porter, to aspiring 15-year old SW seamer Matt Falconer (3-31).
Bashley went on to post 168-3 and then reduce South Wilts to 30-4 when the rains came, with Joe Cranch, Jack Stearman and George Edwards all back in the dry comforts of the Bemerton pavilion, Sam Stroud (3-16) having removed all three.
Whoever emerges the winners of the South Wilts-Bashley (Rydal) joust will host Bath (who knocked out Potterne) in round two.
* Havant have agreed to play their twice-postponed RL Cup tie against Weybridge at Havant Park on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 1300 hours.
In a re-arranged tie already trimmed to a T20 format in a bid to beat an imminent rain storm, South Wilts were rocking at 30-4 in the wet and appeared to have little chance of overhauling Bashley’s 168-3.
But with ten overs needing to be bowled in the second innings to constitute a result, South Wilts – having batted only 7.4 overs - escaped defeat by the skin of their teeth.
South Wilts, fielding a seriously weakened side containing only three young 1st XI regulars, await a ruling from Lord’s about what happens next.
South Wilts, whose only completed Southern Premier Division game so far this season on May 1 resulted in a crushing nine-wicket defeat by Bashley (Rydal), found themselves under the cosh from visitors’ opening pair Alex Turner and Jacob Gordon in the game itself.
The pair piled up 117 for the first wicket, with Turner hitting 58 and Gordon 66 – before both fell, as did skipper Michael Porter, to aspiring 15-year old SW seamer Matt Falconer (3-31).
Bashley went on to post 168-3 and then reduce South Wilts to 30-4 when the rains came, with Joe Cranch, Jack Stearman and George Edwards all back in the dry comforts of the Bemerton pavilion, Sam Stroud (3-16) having removed all three.
Whoever emerges the winners of the South Wilts-Bashley (Rydal) joust will host Bath (who knocked out Potterne) in round two.
* Havant have agreed to play their twice-postponed RL Cup tie against Weybridge at Havant Park on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 1300 hours.
Alex Turner drives through the covers [Roy Honeybone]
