Fareham & Crofton duo Morgan Frost (left) and tailender Andrew Martin re-enacted their own version of the famous 2019 Ben Stokes-Jack Leach Ashes heroics as the Bath Lane club pulled off their maiden Southern Premier Division 1 victory over South Wilts seconds.
The pair put on 70 for the last wicket to haul Fareham out of the mire, just as Stokes and Leach did at Headingley (with their 76 10th wicket stand) which turned the Third Test on its head.
Fareham had begun promisingly with stand-in skipper Tom Kent (24) and Cape Town’s Craig Jeffery (27) sharing a 50-run start. Three quick wickets changed all that.
The score was 75-3 when Frost arrived in the middle. Fareham dipped to 91-6, then 121-6 quickly became 125-9, spin duo James Brewer (3-46) and Mark Anderson-Emm (3-27) doing the damage.
But then began a remarkable partnership which changed the face of the game and, who knows, may be Fareham’s season ?
“We had just lost four wickets for only six runs, dropping from a healthy 70-1, so it was essential I kept my concentration and picked up as many runs as I could,’ Frost explained.
“‘When Andrew arrived at the crease, we were 125-9 and not in a great position. I just emphasised how important it was he kept his wicket intact while I got stuck into anything loose.
“To be fair, Andrew’s worked hard on his batting and knows what he’s doing, so that took the pressure off.”
Punishing anything loose, Frost cracked a six and 14 fours in making 86, sharing a last-wicket stand of 70 with the lanky Martin, whose contribution was six not out. A vastly improved total of 195 gave Fareham a chance.
Frost added: ‘Dressing room confidence soared at that point. We’d beaten Hartley Wintney in the t20 the previous weekend, so there was a real buzz when we went out to field. To get our first win on the board has stimulated everyone.’
South Wilts needed Tom Morton (21) and James Hayward (25) to fire, but they were among the batsmen who perished as the visitors slipped to 79-5.
Sam Pittman (33) and Archie Pascoe (18) lifted the score to 130, but the last five wickets fell for 20 runs and South Wilts to 150 all out.
Leg spinner Jeffery (3-17) and Dan Reader (3-25) led the Fareham wicket-taking list as South Wilts were bowled out for 150.
The pair put on 70 for the last wicket to haul Fareham out of the mire, just as Stokes and Leach did at Headingley (with their 76 10th wicket stand) which turned the Third Test on its head.
Fareham had begun promisingly with stand-in skipper Tom Kent (24) and Cape Town’s Craig Jeffery (27) sharing a 50-run start. Three quick wickets changed all that.
The score was 75-3 when Frost arrived in the middle. Fareham dipped to 91-6, then 121-6 quickly became 125-9, spin duo James Brewer (3-46) and Mark Anderson-Emm (3-27) doing the damage.
But then began a remarkable partnership which changed the face of the game and, who knows, may be Fareham’s season ?
“We had just lost four wickets for only six runs, dropping from a healthy 70-1, so it was essential I kept my concentration and picked up as many runs as I could,’ Frost explained.
“‘When Andrew arrived at the crease, we were 125-9 and not in a great position. I just emphasised how important it was he kept his wicket intact while I got stuck into anything loose.
“To be fair, Andrew’s worked hard on his batting and knows what he’s doing, so that took the pressure off.”
Punishing anything loose, Frost cracked a six and 14 fours in making 86, sharing a last-wicket stand of 70 with the lanky Martin, whose contribution was six not out. A vastly improved total of 195 gave Fareham a chance.
Frost added: ‘Dressing room confidence soared at that point. We’d beaten Hartley Wintney in the t20 the previous weekend, so there was a real buzz when we went out to field. To get our first win on the board has stimulated everyone.’
South Wilts needed Tom Morton (21) and James Hayward (25) to fire, but they were among the batsmen who perished as the visitors slipped to 79-5.
Sam Pittman (33) and Archie Pascoe (18) lifted the score to 130, but the last five wickets fell for 20 runs and South Wilts to 150 all out.
Leg spinner Jeffery (3-17) and Dan Reader (3-25) led the Fareham wicket-taking list as South Wilts were bowled out for 150.