James Hayward's century cover drive [Roy Honeybone pictures]
(pictured below)James Hayward hit an unbeaten 103 which Matt Stokes almost matched with a century of his own as South Wilts maintained their lead at the top of the ECB Southern Premier League by claiming a “winning draw” in what, for the most part, was an interesting match with St Cross Symondians at Winchester’s tree lined Green Jackets Ground.
Hayward struck his first hundred since 2015, having come to the crease with South Wilts an uncertain 76-4 and went on to steer his side to 268-7.
Stokes’s role for St Cross was not dissimilar inasmuch his side lost three wickets in quick succession immediately after tea, but from 69-4 he took them to an eventual 230-7, finishing unbeaten on 98, two runs short of what would have been a deserved hundred.
Tom Morton, with a six-boundary 31, got South Wilts off to a typical flier, which Jack Bransgrove (3-59) checked and before too long the visitors were 76-4 with Steve Mitchell (3-43) sharing the spoils.
It needed some careful progress for Hayward and Ben Draper (34) to see South Wilts through to lunch five down, but with Hayward (and his dangerous array of unorthodox shots) still at the crease a sizeable total beckoned.
A brief rain break failed to dampen Hayward’s thirst for runs and with a series of sweet times drives and unorthodox switch hits he breached the boundary rope 13 times before bringing up his first SPL century in four seasons.
James Hibberd (28) also worked the ball about the field before retiring hurt with a foot injury which later prevented him from bowling.
Nonetheless, South Wilts made it on to 268-7, leaving St Cross 57 overs to chase down the target or, more realistically, score 251 to get the “winning draw”, ie a great share of the points than the visitors.
Two boundaries from Tom Foyle got the innings off to an encouraging start, but having been struck a painful blow on the knee, was clean bowled by Luke Evans next ball.
The runs flowed before tea as teenage duo Billy Mead (24) and Harry Came (29) hit nine boundaries between them.
Came looked in the form of his life after his centuries for Kent seconds in the past week, but he, Mead and Dan Lunn departed within one run of each other to leave Symondians wobbling at 69-4.
Mirroring the South Wilts innings earlier, it needed a period of crease occupation – which Stokes and captain’s brother Harry Foyle (33) duly provided.
Gradually, the pair rebuilt the innings, their timely stand of 116 raising optimism in the St Cross ranks they might, at 185-4, have a crack at that ‘winning draw’ target.
But it was all taking too long.
Admittedly shorn of Hibberd and Steve Warner (injured shoulder), South Wilts persevered with seam when it appeared they had sufficient runs in the bank to ‘buy’ a wicket or two and, in the end, the slow over-rate cost them a bonus point.
Just seven overs of spin were offered up as the game drifted – fortunately to be revived by Stokes (pictured below), who managed to reignite affairs.
The Channel Islander did his level best to double his SPL century tally (he made an unbeaten 120 at Sarisbury Athletic in 2015), but some deliberately ‘out of reach’ deliveries at the end denied him the opportunity.
St Cross closed at 230-7 – a total which left Foyle and his team satisfied.
“We responded well from 69-4. Last season we would have caved in from that sort of position, but Matt batted superbly and created what turned out to be a good game,” Tom Foyle reflected.
Hayward struck his first hundred since 2015, having come to the crease with South Wilts an uncertain 76-4 and went on to steer his side to 268-7.
Stokes’s role for St Cross was not dissimilar inasmuch his side lost three wickets in quick succession immediately after tea, but from 69-4 he took them to an eventual 230-7, finishing unbeaten on 98, two runs short of what would have been a deserved hundred.
Tom Morton, with a six-boundary 31, got South Wilts off to a typical flier, which Jack Bransgrove (3-59) checked and before too long the visitors were 76-4 with Steve Mitchell (3-43) sharing the spoils.
It needed some careful progress for Hayward and Ben Draper (34) to see South Wilts through to lunch five down, but with Hayward (and his dangerous array of unorthodox shots) still at the crease a sizeable total beckoned.
A brief rain break failed to dampen Hayward’s thirst for runs and with a series of sweet times drives and unorthodox switch hits he breached the boundary rope 13 times before bringing up his first SPL century in four seasons.
James Hibberd (28) also worked the ball about the field before retiring hurt with a foot injury which later prevented him from bowling.
Nonetheless, South Wilts made it on to 268-7, leaving St Cross 57 overs to chase down the target or, more realistically, score 251 to get the “winning draw”, ie a great share of the points than the visitors.
Two boundaries from Tom Foyle got the innings off to an encouraging start, but having been struck a painful blow on the knee, was clean bowled by Luke Evans next ball.
The runs flowed before tea as teenage duo Billy Mead (24) and Harry Came (29) hit nine boundaries between them.
Came looked in the form of his life after his centuries for Kent seconds in the past week, but he, Mead and Dan Lunn departed within one run of each other to leave Symondians wobbling at 69-4.
Mirroring the South Wilts innings earlier, it needed a period of crease occupation – which Stokes and captain’s brother Harry Foyle (33) duly provided.
Gradually, the pair rebuilt the innings, their timely stand of 116 raising optimism in the St Cross ranks they might, at 185-4, have a crack at that ‘winning draw’ target.
But it was all taking too long.
Admittedly shorn of Hibberd and Steve Warner (injured shoulder), South Wilts persevered with seam when it appeared they had sufficient runs in the bank to ‘buy’ a wicket or two and, in the end, the slow over-rate cost them a bonus point.
Just seven overs of spin were offered up as the game drifted – fortunately to be revived by Stokes (pictured below), who managed to reignite affairs.
The Channel Islander did his level best to double his SPL century tally (he made an unbeaten 120 at Sarisbury Athletic in 2015), but some deliberately ‘out of reach’ deliveries at the end denied him the opportunity.
St Cross closed at 230-7 – a total which left Foyle and his team satisfied.
“We responded well from 69-4. Last season we would have caved in from that sort of position, but Matt batted superbly and created what turned out to be a good game,” Tom Foyle reflected.
