St Cross Symondians are back at the top of the ECB Southern Premier League, eight points clear with three matches to go.
They regained the yellow jersey by thrashing a woefully weak Lymington by 222 runs – a result which coincided with the Hampshire Academy knocking South Wilts out of the running for a third successive title.
The Young Hawks ran up 282 before dismissing South Wilts for 136 to claim second place.
It’s now a two-horse race for the title, with St Cross needing to win at relegation favourites Hook & Newnham Basics on Saturday – they also go to the KGV for the T20 semi-finals on Sunday, 3pm – before ending the season with potentially trickier matches against Bournemouth and Bashley (Rydal) away.
The Academy’s last three games are against Lymington, Totton & Eling and then at Hook & Newnham Basics.
“It’s going to the wire. Every point is going to be vital now,” stressed St Cross skipper Ed Ellis.
Crippled by injuries and unavailability, Lymington fielded only four regular first team players at the Green Jackets – but gave St Cross a massive shock with Oxford Blue Josh Royan (4-83) whipping out Tom Foyle and Harry Trussler with the second and third balls of the match.
Michael Booth soon became a third victim for Royan to leave St Cross reeling at 19-3 midway through the sixth over.
Charlie Gwynn, who was to play a prominent role with bat and ball, soon asserted his authority on proceedings by hitting his first two deliveries to the boundary.
By the mid-point of the innings, Gwynn and Joe Lewis (58) had lifted St Cross out of trouble to 123-3 and set the base for an imposing 298-7.
The fourth-wicket pair added 144 before Gwynn, having hit a six and 12 fours, nicked one behind for 84. Lewis followed not long after, handing the baton to Harry Foyle to biff 79 (two sixes and nine fours) and add 90 in a powerful partnership with Jack Bransgrove (26).
Lymington’s depleted ranks toiled manfully in the sweltering heat, but managed to last only 25 with the bat as spin duo Gwynn (4-11) and Winchester College’s Callum Whillock (left) (4-8) bowled them out for 67.
They regained the yellow jersey by thrashing a woefully weak Lymington by 222 runs – a result which coincided with the Hampshire Academy knocking South Wilts out of the running for a third successive title.
The Young Hawks ran up 282 before dismissing South Wilts for 136 to claim second place.
It’s now a two-horse race for the title, with St Cross needing to win at relegation favourites Hook & Newnham Basics on Saturday – they also go to the KGV for the T20 semi-finals on Sunday, 3pm – before ending the season with potentially trickier matches against Bournemouth and Bashley (Rydal) away.
The Academy’s last three games are against Lymington, Totton & Eling and then at Hook & Newnham Basics.
“It’s going to the wire. Every point is going to be vital now,” stressed St Cross skipper Ed Ellis.
Crippled by injuries and unavailability, Lymington fielded only four regular first team players at the Green Jackets – but gave St Cross a massive shock with Oxford Blue Josh Royan (4-83) whipping out Tom Foyle and Harry Trussler with the second and third balls of the match.
Michael Booth soon became a third victim for Royan to leave St Cross reeling at 19-3 midway through the sixth over.
Charlie Gwynn, who was to play a prominent role with bat and ball, soon asserted his authority on proceedings by hitting his first two deliveries to the boundary.
By the mid-point of the innings, Gwynn and Joe Lewis (58) had lifted St Cross out of trouble to 123-3 and set the base for an imposing 298-7.
The fourth-wicket pair added 144 before Gwynn, having hit a six and 12 fours, nicked one behind for 84. Lewis followed not long after, handing the baton to Harry Foyle to biff 79 (two sixes and nine fours) and add 90 in a powerful partnership with Jack Bransgrove (26).
Lymington’s depleted ranks toiled manfully in the sweltering heat, but managed to last only 25 with the bat as spin duo Gwynn (4-11) and Winchester College’s Callum Whillock (left) (4-8) bowled them out for 67.