
Martyn James produced a career-best spell of 7-24, but for an hour or more feared he might finish on the losing side when Hook & Newnham Basics sank to 49-8 chasing a meagre 95 to beat Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
That 19 wickets fell for 191 runs would suggest a King George V ‘minefield’ – anything but, it looked a 300-plus deck on which two outstanding left-arm bowlers performed against some pretty ordinary batting.
The key for Hook was that Martyn James outshone Hampshire T20 left-armer Chris Wood and Daniel Moore, pictured, showed the technique to get the Army across the line.
James ripped through OTs batting, taking the first seven wickets, including Joe Vaughan (21) and Wood himself. He underlined he importance of bowling straight, trapping three batsmen leg before and bowling two others.
Ian Woodall (24), Lewis Allen (12) and James Trodd (10 not out) were the only other Romsey batsmen to make double figures as the visitors were dismissed for 95 in 34.1 overs.
The other Hook wicket takers were Anik Devicha (1-21), Jack Murrell (1-25), and Will Gardner (1-14), who had top scorer Woodhall stumped by Josh Buckingham.
Before Hook knew where they were, Wood had cleaned out three of their top four and they rocking at 16-4. Wood was bowling full tilt, upping his fitness levels ahead of the forthcoming T20 Blast.
Two more wickets fell to James Trodd (3-20) at 38 and not long after it was 49-8. Fortunately for Hook, Daniel Moore kept his cool, adding a precious 18 runs before nicking behind to give Wood his fourth scalp (67-9).
Hook’s last pair Moore and Divecha, who finished with 12 not out, still needed to produce the highest stand of a bizarre match to secure a victory for the SPL1 leaders.
But, run by run and with a few untimely extras and overthrows tossed in, they got home, Moore’s unbeaten 24 proving priceless as Hook edged home at 96-9.
That 19 wickets fell for 191 runs would suggest a King George V ‘minefield’ – anything but, it looked a 300-plus deck on which two outstanding left-arm bowlers performed against some pretty ordinary batting.
The key for Hook was that Martyn James outshone Hampshire T20 left-armer Chris Wood and Daniel Moore, pictured, showed the technique to get the Army across the line.
James ripped through OTs batting, taking the first seven wickets, including Joe Vaughan (21) and Wood himself. He underlined he importance of bowling straight, trapping three batsmen leg before and bowling two others.
Ian Woodall (24), Lewis Allen (12) and James Trodd (10 not out) were the only other Romsey batsmen to make double figures as the visitors were dismissed for 95 in 34.1 overs.
The other Hook wicket takers were Anik Devicha (1-21), Jack Murrell (1-25), and Will Gardner (1-14), who had top scorer Woodhall stumped by Josh Buckingham.
Before Hook knew where they were, Wood had cleaned out three of their top four and they rocking at 16-4. Wood was bowling full tilt, upping his fitness levels ahead of the forthcoming T20 Blast.
Two more wickets fell to James Trodd (3-20) at 38 and not long after it was 49-8. Fortunately for Hook, Daniel Moore kept his cool, adding a precious 18 runs before nicking behind to give Wood his fourth scalp (67-9).
Hook’s last pair Moore and Divecha, who finished with 12 not out, still needed to produce the highest stand of a bizarre match to secure a victory for the SPL1 leaders.
But, run by run and with a few untimely extras and overthrows tossed in, they got home, Moore’s unbeaten 24 proving priceless as Hook edged home at 96-9.