Fetch that ! James Hayward launches a six out of the KGV. Cookie picture.
South Wilts are back in the thick of the ECB Southern Premier Division title race and go into Saturday’s match against the fifth-placed Hampshire Academy at Bemerton (11.30) only two points behind faltering leaders Bournemouth.
A 64-run win at Hook & Newnham Basics, inspired by James Hayward’s 13th SPL century, which coincided with Bournemouth suffering a shock defeat against Alton, has thrown the title race wide open.
Going into Saturday’s round 13 matches, Bournemouth are effectively two points ahead of South Wilts who, in turn, are eight clear of stumbling St Cross Symondians. Havant are fourth, 13 points adrift of top spot.
“We said at the outset the team that wins the league will lose four matches and, in the shortened season we’ve had, that’s proved to be the case, with Bournemouth, Havant and ourselves all having lost three already,” Hayward said.
“We’re just watching as things develop. We’re a relatively young side enjoying our cricket, so if we’re involved at the business end of the season, that will be great.”
With lead light Tom Morton (flu) absent, Hayward took the lead role, cracking a superb 113 as South Wilts rattled up 236-6 before dismissing relegation threatened Hook on the first visit to the King George V Ground.
According to onlookers, Hook made the mistake of ‘chirping’ Hayward to the effect that he couldn’t play the sweep shot to any great effect – and paid the penalty !
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“They’d obviously never seen me play hockey,” laughed Hayward, who plundered three sixes and 14 fours – a large percentage reverse sweeps and switch hits to which Hook were unable to set a field.
Hayward, whose last SPL century was in May 2019 when he made 128 against Bournemouth, went to town after opener Jack Mynott made 58 at the top of the innings.
Josh Buckingham followed Hayward’s lead and smashed 62 off only 29 balls – two sixes and 11 fours adding up to 56 of them in boundaries !
Sam Lockwood (32) shared a stand of 101, but Hook collapsed once Mynott (3-46) and Steve Warner (4-25) began to make inroads. Matty Burton (3-24) cleaned up the tail with an all-bowled hat-trick as Hook were dismissed for 172.
Meanwhile, last chance saloon day dawns for Hook & Newnham Basics, whose immediate future in the ECB Southern Premier Division probably rests on the outcome of Saturday’s visit to Alton.
It’s essentially win or bust for Hook, who trail the Brewers by 21 points after Alton’s back-to-back victories over Burridge and Bournemouth.
If they lose, the survival chord will almost be snapped. But if Josh Buckingham’s side can pull off a second win of the season – their only success so far came at Burridge last month – then may be an August rescue package can be put together. It’s Hook’s most important game of the season.
A 64-run win at Hook & Newnham Basics, inspired by James Hayward’s 13th SPL century, which coincided with Bournemouth suffering a shock defeat against Alton, has thrown the title race wide open.
Going into Saturday’s round 13 matches, Bournemouth are effectively two points ahead of South Wilts who, in turn, are eight clear of stumbling St Cross Symondians. Havant are fourth, 13 points adrift of top spot.
“We said at the outset the team that wins the league will lose four matches and, in the shortened season we’ve had, that’s proved to be the case, with Bournemouth, Havant and ourselves all having lost three already,” Hayward said.
“We’re just watching as things develop. We’re a relatively young side enjoying our cricket, so if we’re involved at the business end of the season, that will be great.”
With lead light Tom Morton (flu) absent, Hayward took the lead role, cracking a superb 113 as South Wilts rattled up 236-6 before dismissing relegation threatened Hook on the first visit to the King George V Ground.
According to onlookers, Hook made the mistake of ‘chirping’ Hayward to the effect that he couldn’t play the sweep shot to any great effect – and paid the penalty !
Collapsed
“They’d obviously never seen me play hockey,” laughed Hayward, who plundered three sixes and 14 fours – a large percentage reverse sweeps and switch hits to which Hook were unable to set a field.
Hayward, whose last SPL century was in May 2019 when he made 128 against Bournemouth, went to town after opener Jack Mynott made 58 at the top of the innings.
Josh Buckingham followed Hayward’s lead and smashed 62 off only 29 balls – two sixes and 11 fours adding up to 56 of them in boundaries !
Sam Lockwood (32) shared a stand of 101, but Hook collapsed once Mynott (3-46) and Steve Warner (4-25) began to make inroads. Matty Burton (3-24) cleaned up the tail with an all-bowled hat-trick as Hook were dismissed for 172.
Meanwhile, last chance saloon day dawns for Hook & Newnham Basics, whose immediate future in the ECB Southern Premier Division probably rests on the outcome of Saturday’s visit to Alton.
It’s essentially win or bust for Hook, who trail the Brewers by 21 points after Alton’s back-to-back victories over Burridge and Bournemouth.
If they lose, the survival chord will almost be snapped. But if Josh Buckingham’s side can pull off a second win of the season – their only success so far came at Burridge last month – then may be an August rescue package can be put together. It’s Hook’s most important game of the season.
The infamous James Hayward switch hit snapped by Cookie
Matt Burton ripped through the Hook & Newnham Basics tail with an all-bowled hat-trick.
