Toby Edwards struck a typically brutal 61 not out and spinner James Adams took four wickets as New Milton chased down Liphook & Ripsley’s 197 to win their Southern Premier Division 1 contest at Fernhill by four wickets.
Liphook & Ripsley who fell to third defeat in four games, suffered an early setback when teenager Henry Amis was caught in the slips.
Harry Munt (31) joined Ryan Covey, but even without their influential seam bowling captain George Watts, New Milton had a clear plan of where to bowl and set their fields accordingly. The score got up to 69 before Munt fell. George Neave and Covey got the score to 100 but once Neave was bowled, the game was heading in New Milton’s favour. 100-3 quickly became 126-7 as the spin bowlers of Joe Hall and James Adams (4-34) ripped through the Liphook middle order but while Ryan Covey was still there the game was still alive.
Covey passed his fifty with a very patient innings, but the scoring rate increased with only 10 overs to go as he and Dan Harvey set about upping the run rate. They raced the score onto 180 before Covey was finally dismissed for a very well played 81, which included a six and six fours.
Liphook managed to get to 197 before being bowled out in the final over. A great late cameo came from Dan Harvey hitting a run a ball 24. The hosts bowling and fielding was superb, leg spinner Adams the pick of the bowlers picking up 4-34 off his 10 overs.
Liphook & Ripsley who fell to third defeat in four games, suffered an early setback when teenager Henry Amis was caught in the slips.
Harry Munt (31) joined Ryan Covey, but even without their influential seam bowling captain George Watts, New Milton had a clear plan of where to bowl and set their fields accordingly. The score got up to 69 before Munt fell. George Neave and Covey got the score to 100 but once Neave was bowled, the game was heading in New Milton’s favour. 100-3 quickly became 126-7 as the spin bowlers of Joe Hall and James Adams (4-34) ripped through the Liphook middle order but while Ryan Covey was still there the game was still alive.
Covey passed his fifty with a very patient innings, but the scoring rate increased with only 10 overs to go as he and Dan Harvey set about upping the run rate. They raced the score onto 180 before Covey was finally dismissed for a very well played 81, which included a six and six fours.
Liphook managed to get to 197 before being bowled out in the final over. A great late cameo came from Dan Harvey hitting a run a ball 24. The hosts bowling and fielding was superb, leg spinner Adams the pick of the bowlers picking up 4-34 off his 10 overs.
Liphook were in need of some quick wickets and they made the breakthrough when Joe Randall had Ryan Beck (7) caught at point. Charles Janczur then picked up his first wicket of the season as he had other opener Adams caught at slip and the score was 29-2.
However, an 80-run third wicket stand between Ben Griffiths (30) and Lee Beck took the game away from Liphook. Griffiths batted steadily, but Beck struck out, twice clearing the rope and hitting five other boundaries.
Both batsmen fell but in came stand-in skipper Edwards who won the game for New Milton, smashing 61* off just 42 balls .. as he does quite often !
However, an 80-run third wicket stand between Ben Griffiths (30) and Lee Beck took the game away from Liphook. Griffiths batted steadily, but Beck struck out, twice clearing the rope and hitting five other boundaries.
Both batsmen fell but in came stand-in skipper Edwards who won the game for New Milton, smashing 61* off just 42 balls .. as he does quite often !