Longparish talent Billy Mead, pictured, kept a cool head to play the key role with a decisive 70 as Hampshire Under-17s won a key two-wicket victory over Devon at Seaton to progress to the knockout phase of the ECB Royal London Cup.
Hampshire were in desperate trouble at 60-5 and later 88-6 chasing Devon’s 205-8 (Jason Hagan-Burt 75).
But Mead, who got out of his sick bed to play, kept Hampshire in the contest, adding important runs with Alex Bone (19) and Chris Searle (27) as the visitors inched closer to the target.
Mead’s dismissal at 173-8 - he batted 97 balls and hit six boundaries in a patient stay at the crease - put the game back in the balance, but Fair Oak’s Charlie Gwynne (19) and Bashley (Rydal) all-rounder George Pardoe (14) eased Hampshire home without further loss with eight balls to spare.
Hampshire's reward is a home semi-final tie against the London & South East group winners on August 14 2016. The London group is currently playing fixture catch-up
* Hampshire’s Under-15 ECB Championship match with Devon was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Lymington.
Hampshire were in desperate trouble at 60-5 and later 88-6 chasing Devon’s 205-8 (Jason Hagan-Burt 75).
But Mead, who got out of his sick bed to play, kept Hampshire in the contest, adding important runs with Alex Bone (19) and Chris Searle (27) as the visitors inched closer to the target.
Mead’s dismissal at 173-8 - he batted 97 balls and hit six boundaries in a patient stay at the crease - put the game back in the balance, but Fair Oak’s Charlie Gwynne (19) and Bashley (Rydal) all-rounder George Pardoe (14) eased Hampshire home without further loss with eight balls to spare.
Hampshire's reward is a home semi-final tie against the London & South East group winners on August 14 2016. The London group is currently playing fixture catch-up
* Hampshire’s Under-15 ECB Championship match with Devon was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Lymington.
