Mark Lavelle key figures of 3-19 [James Robinson]
St Cross Symondians are under pressure to qualify from their Southern Premier League Cup West group after tieing with Totton & Eling and then losing to Calmore Sports.
The outcome of Saturday’s visit to South Wilts has increased in significance following a 28-run defeat by Division 1 side Calmore.
Spin pair Ben Perry (4-16) and Mark Lavelle (3-19) took seven wickets between them as Calmore Sports successfully defended 156-7 and bowled Symondians out for 128.
Hampshire cricket media man Will Brewster (42) underlined his potential as a batsman – alongside being a scribe – by making the top individual score of the match.
“The majority of us got starts and contributed with the bat, but Will batted really well and set us a good platform. We knew we had a competitive score but felt 30 runs light,” said Calmore skipper Lavelle.
“It was a used Green Jackets pitch so spin was always going to play a big part as their slow bowlers did really well in tying us down in the middle.”
At 53-1, St Cross appeared nicely poised, but Calmore got their tactics spot on.
“We got spin into the attack early and really squeezed them. Ben Perry bowled beautifully and we both tied down each end,” Lavelle continued.
“Max Bailey and James Manning (2-29) did the same in their spells and when we’d got their asking rate above six runs an over we knew it was going to be a hard task with Perry, Manning and myself all having overs left.
“The lads backed it up well in the field with some brilliant catches, particularly Matt Taylor, who took a blinder on the boundary when we all thought it was six!”
Jack Bransgrove (30) rallied from 73-5, but the last five wickets fell for 18 runs to leave St Cross 128 all out.
The outcome of Saturday’s visit to South Wilts has increased in significance following a 28-run defeat by Division 1 side Calmore.
Spin pair Ben Perry (4-16) and Mark Lavelle (3-19) took seven wickets between them as Calmore Sports successfully defended 156-7 and bowled Symondians out for 128.
Hampshire cricket media man Will Brewster (42) underlined his potential as a batsman – alongside being a scribe – by making the top individual score of the match.
“The majority of us got starts and contributed with the bat, but Will batted really well and set us a good platform. We knew we had a competitive score but felt 30 runs light,” said Calmore skipper Lavelle.
“It was a used Green Jackets pitch so spin was always going to play a big part as their slow bowlers did really well in tying us down in the middle.”
At 53-1, St Cross appeared nicely poised, but Calmore got their tactics spot on.
“We got spin into the attack early and really squeezed them. Ben Perry bowled beautifully and we both tied down each end,” Lavelle continued.
“Max Bailey and James Manning (2-29) did the same in their spells and when we’d got their asking rate above six runs an over we knew it was going to be a hard task with Perry, Manning and myself all having overs left.
“The lads backed it up well in the field with some brilliant catches, particularly Matt Taylor, who took a blinder on the boundary when we all thought it was six!”
Jack Bransgrove (30) rallied from 73-5, but the last five wickets fell for 18 runs to leave St Cross 128 all out.
