South Wilts have given themselves a chance of reaching the Southern Premier League Cup Grand Final after thrashing Bashley (Rydal) by eight wickets – but they will need results to go their way in Saturday’s last round of group matches if they are to do so.
Firstly, they need to pick up a decent point haul in beating Andover at London Road and then hope West group leaders Bournemouth lose at Bashley.
With St Cross Symondians (at New Milton) also in the mix, four sides are in contention for a Grand Final place on September 19.
James Hayward smashed a boundary strewn 85 not out as South Wilts raced past Bashley’s modest 177-4 with more than seven overs to spare.
He hit two sixes and completed the run chase with five successive boundaries – hitting 13 fours in all during his unbroken 134-run stand with Raff Hussey, who finished with 44 not out.
South Wilts had earlier lost Tom Morton (28) and Peter Rowe (12), while at 94-2 Hussey had an enormous let off when Bashley off-spinner Josh Digby dropped a dolly catch off his own bowling.
A double-wicket breakthrough by the emerging Tom Lewis (2-26) proved a significant turning point during the afternoon session.
Bashley were going nicely at 80-1 through Tom Jacques (29) and James Turner (27) when left-armer Tom Grant had Jacques caught.
Then, in the next over, the 21-year old Lewis, bowling his tight off-spin from the Bemerton pavilion end, removed Turner and Michael Porter in the space in five deliveries, both superbly caught by Hussey.
The 21-year old admitted: “They were both long-hops, probably the worst two balls I bowled in my seven-overs, but Raff took two great catches.”
Lewis certainly derailed Bashley, who dropped to 87-4, leaving Harry Fisher (41) and Jacob Gordon (36) to pick up the pieces and guide the New Forest visitors to a below-par 177-4.
“We were second best throughout,” conceded Bashley skipper Michael Porter. “We need to pick ourselves up and show a vast improvement against Bournemouth.”
Firstly, they need to pick up a decent point haul in beating Andover at London Road and then hope West group leaders Bournemouth lose at Bashley.
With St Cross Symondians (at New Milton) also in the mix, four sides are in contention for a Grand Final place on September 19.
James Hayward smashed a boundary strewn 85 not out as South Wilts raced past Bashley’s modest 177-4 with more than seven overs to spare.
He hit two sixes and completed the run chase with five successive boundaries – hitting 13 fours in all during his unbroken 134-run stand with Raff Hussey, who finished with 44 not out.
South Wilts had earlier lost Tom Morton (28) and Peter Rowe (12), while at 94-2 Hussey had an enormous let off when Bashley off-spinner Josh Digby dropped a dolly catch off his own bowling.
A double-wicket breakthrough by the emerging Tom Lewis (2-26) proved a significant turning point during the afternoon session.
Bashley were going nicely at 80-1 through Tom Jacques (29) and James Turner (27) when left-armer Tom Grant had Jacques caught.
Then, in the next over, the 21-year old Lewis, bowling his tight off-spin from the Bemerton pavilion end, removed Turner and Michael Porter in the space in five deliveries, both superbly caught by Hussey.
The 21-year old admitted: “They were both long-hops, probably the worst two balls I bowled in my seven-overs, but Raff took two great catches.”
Lewis certainly derailed Bashley, who dropped to 87-4, leaving Harry Fisher (41) and Jacob Gordon (36) to pick up the pieces and guide the New Forest visitors to a below-par 177-4.
“We were second best throughout,” conceded Bashley skipper Michael Porter. “We need to pick ourselves up and show a vast improvement against Bournemouth.”