Jeremy Frith's 144 set up Sparsholt derby win [Bob Selley]
Sparsholt skipper Jeremy Frith produced a stunning individual performance – a league best 144, followed by a 3-33 return – to send Southern Premier Division 2 neighbours St Cross Symondians II crashing to their first defeat.
Frith dominated Sparsholt’s 277-6 – a total St Cross were hard pressed to chase at the Norman Edwards Ground once they had lost their first five wickets for 100.
Symondians were eventually dismissed for 212, 65 runs shy of the Sparsholt score.
But Frith’s century was hardly straight forward – Jamie Aldridge (2-43) nipping out Michael Haworth and Aussie Sam O’Brien before the Sparsholt innings had really begun.
His 124-run third-wicket partnership with Dave Banks (64) titled the balance, the former Sarisbury Athletic skipper hitting two sixes and eight fours in his knock.
Frith, who struck twice cleared the ropes alongside hitting 19 fours, then shared a second century partnership with Lewis Mitchard (35) as Sparsholt moved on to their 277-6 (Matt Perry-Lewis 3-68).
Frith said: “The batting part of it was fine. I could have happily stayed at the crease for another 50 overs, but having to field and also bowling nine overs was a killer.
“The pitch did a bit early on and offered something throughout the game as it was wet in the week leading up to the game.
“We would have bowled first too, so I guess it goes in the category as a good toss to lose.
“However, the outfield was quick and pace of the wicket was relatively true so it putting bad balls away wasn’t an issue.”
Sun jaded St Cross needed a Frith-like response if they were going to challenge Sparsholt’s total, but only former Hampshire batsman Jason Laney (27) and Paul Hawkins (35) made starts as they dipped to 100-5, teenage spinner Liam Doran (2-33) taking two of the wickets.
Robbie Hadfield’s run-a-ball 54 ensured St Cross got some batting bonus points on the board before Frith had the final word, finishing a stunning performance with a 3-33 return.
Basingstoke & North Hants seconds remain top, even though they lost by 81 runs at Rowledge – but their lead has been trimmed to a mere two points by St Cross Symondians II.
Basingstoke won the toss and got off to a good start with opener Nick Morant being caught with only 25 scored. At 62-3 the game was in the balance, but Sam Plater (42) and David Lloyd (65), set about building the platform for victory. The pair pushed the score past 100 before Lloyd and Ollie Baker (13) added 70 for the fifth wicket. Baker and Lloyd were both then out in the space of five runs, but some excellent late hitting from unbeaten pair Will Ryman (19) and Joe Randall (25) took the score to 225-6.
Basingstoke’s reply started well despite losing Scott Dyer for 18. Chris Froud (20) and top scorer Max Harsham (27) made it 67-1, before the wickets started to fall. Soon the visitors were 100-5 and with only Matt Deadman (15) and Greg Donaldson (11) able to make it into double figures, they were bowled out for 144 and the home side won by 83 runs.
Frith dominated Sparsholt’s 277-6 – a total St Cross were hard pressed to chase at the Norman Edwards Ground once they had lost their first five wickets for 100.
Symondians were eventually dismissed for 212, 65 runs shy of the Sparsholt score.
But Frith’s century was hardly straight forward – Jamie Aldridge (2-43) nipping out Michael Haworth and Aussie Sam O’Brien before the Sparsholt innings had really begun.
His 124-run third-wicket partnership with Dave Banks (64) titled the balance, the former Sarisbury Athletic skipper hitting two sixes and eight fours in his knock.
Frith, who struck twice cleared the ropes alongside hitting 19 fours, then shared a second century partnership with Lewis Mitchard (35) as Sparsholt moved on to their 277-6 (Matt Perry-Lewis 3-68).
Frith said: “The batting part of it was fine. I could have happily stayed at the crease for another 50 overs, but having to field and also bowling nine overs was a killer.
“The pitch did a bit early on and offered something throughout the game as it was wet in the week leading up to the game.
“We would have bowled first too, so I guess it goes in the category as a good toss to lose.
“However, the outfield was quick and pace of the wicket was relatively true so it putting bad balls away wasn’t an issue.”
Sun jaded St Cross needed a Frith-like response if they were going to challenge Sparsholt’s total, but only former Hampshire batsman Jason Laney (27) and Paul Hawkins (35) made starts as they dipped to 100-5, teenage spinner Liam Doran (2-33) taking two of the wickets.
Robbie Hadfield’s run-a-ball 54 ensured St Cross got some batting bonus points on the board before Frith had the final word, finishing a stunning performance with a 3-33 return.
Basingstoke & North Hants seconds remain top, even though they lost by 81 runs at Rowledge – but their lead has been trimmed to a mere two points by St Cross Symondians II.
Basingstoke won the toss and got off to a good start with opener Nick Morant being caught with only 25 scored. At 62-3 the game was in the balance, but Sam Plater (42) and David Lloyd (65), set about building the platform for victory. The pair pushed the score past 100 before Lloyd and Ollie Baker (13) added 70 for the fifth wicket. Baker and Lloyd were both then out in the space of five runs, but some excellent late hitting from unbeaten pair Will Ryman (19) and Joe Randall (25) took the score to 225-6.
Basingstoke’s reply started well despite losing Scott Dyer for 18. Chris Froud (20) and top scorer Max Harsham (27) made it 67-1, before the wickets started to fall. Soon the visitors were 100-5 and with only Matt Deadman (15) and Greg Donaldson (11) able to make it into double figures, they were bowled out for 144 and the home side won by 83 runs.
