James Hayward is in the form of his life for South Wilts – a second scintillating century in eight days powering the Bemerton club into the third round of the ECB Royal London national club championships.
He opened the season with a quite magnificent unbeaten 117 for South Wilts against the Hampshire Academy.
And followed it up with an arguably even better 122 as South Wilts beat West of England Premier League Division 1 side Potterne by 57 runs.
By his own admission, Hayward had to produce a ‘responsible’ knock against visiting Potterne as South Wilts were in a spot of bother at 41-3 when he arrived at the crease.
In-form trio Eddie Abel, Tom Morton and William Wade were all back in the pavilion and Potterne were fancying their chances.
But Hayward, with no mean support from Joe Cranch, turned the game on its head with a 123-run fourth wicket stand which pointed South Wilts to a powerful 259-6 off 45 overs, which Potterne took over three hours to bowl.
Hayward struck two sixes and 15 fours in his 122 - which he agreed was one of his best innings for some time – while Cranch made 62.
“Against the Academy, we already had runs on the board when I came in, so I could play with a carefree attitude and play shots to my heart’s content, but things weren’t going so well against Potterne so I had to knuckle down and play a responsible innings,” he admitted.
Potterne began their innings confidently enough and were 72-1 at one stage, but steadily lost wickets against the seam and spin combination of James Hibberd, Jake Foley, Luke Evans and Abel, closing at 202 all out.
South Wilts’ reward is a home tie against Ventnor – their Premier League opponents at Newclose on Saturday, 1pm – at Bemerton on Sunday May 30.
Havant went on a 330-run blitz against ECB Sussex Premier League side Middleton and romped home massive 193-run winners.
Ben Walker (90) and Andy Gorvin (60) led the way with a 141-run partnership after Pete Hopson had gone for a duck. Chris Stone hit three sixes and six fours in a breezy 50 not out, while teenager Harry Hovey (27) breached the boundary rope six times. Gorvin, who doesn’t bowl when he captains the Hampshire Academy, took 5-24 as Middleton were rushed out for 137.
Havant will now host Basingstoke & North Hants, who beat Burridge by 117 runs at May’s Bounty.
A fourth-wicket stand of 155 between Chris Oliver (88) and Craig Williamson (53) pointed Basingstoke to a formidable 249-3 (Mitchell Stokes 31).
Burridge collapsed to 72-5 before being bowled out for 132.
Former Brockenhurst College student Zach Millar continues to impress at Bath, where he is studying at the city’s university.
He made a century against Chippenham a fortnight and it an undefeated 51 to haul Bath out of the mire and set up a second round win over Frocester at Northern Parade.
He opened the season with a quite magnificent unbeaten 117 for South Wilts against the Hampshire Academy.
And followed it up with an arguably even better 122 as South Wilts beat West of England Premier League Division 1 side Potterne by 57 runs.
By his own admission, Hayward had to produce a ‘responsible’ knock against visiting Potterne as South Wilts were in a spot of bother at 41-3 when he arrived at the crease.
In-form trio Eddie Abel, Tom Morton and William Wade were all back in the pavilion and Potterne were fancying their chances.
But Hayward, with no mean support from Joe Cranch, turned the game on its head with a 123-run fourth wicket stand which pointed South Wilts to a powerful 259-6 off 45 overs, which Potterne took over three hours to bowl.
Hayward struck two sixes and 15 fours in his 122 - which he agreed was one of his best innings for some time – while Cranch made 62.
“Against the Academy, we already had runs on the board when I came in, so I could play with a carefree attitude and play shots to my heart’s content, but things weren’t going so well against Potterne so I had to knuckle down and play a responsible innings,” he admitted.
Potterne began their innings confidently enough and were 72-1 at one stage, but steadily lost wickets against the seam and spin combination of James Hibberd, Jake Foley, Luke Evans and Abel, closing at 202 all out.
South Wilts’ reward is a home tie against Ventnor – their Premier League opponents at Newclose on Saturday, 1pm – at Bemerton on Sunday May 30.
Havant went on a 330-run blitz against ECB Sussex Premier League side Middleton and romped home massive 193-run winners.
Ben Walker (90) and Andy Gorvin (60) led the way with a 141-run partnership after Pete Hopson had gone for a duck. Chris Stone hit three sixes and six fours in a breezy 50 not out, while teenager Harry Hovey (27) breached the boundary rope six times. Gorvin, who doesn’t bowl when he captains the Hampshire Academy, took 5-24 as Middleton were rushed out for 137.
Havant will now host Basingstoke & North Hants, who beat Burridge by 117 runs at May’s Bounty.
A fourth-wicket stand of 155 between Chris Oliver (88) and Craig Williamson (53) pointed Basingstoke to a formidable 249-3 (Mitchell Stokes 31).
Burridge collapsed to 72-5 before being bowled out for 132.
Former Brockenhurst College student Zach Millar continues to impress at Bath, where he is studying at the city’s university.
He made a century against Chippenham a fortnight and it an undefeated 51 to haul Bath out of the mire and set up a second round win over Frocester at Northern Parade.
