Raff Hussey's leg stump is knocked back by James Hibberd [Roy Honeybone]
Tom Morton plundered an unbeaten 91 and took over the mantle of leading Southern Premier League run scorer as South Wilts thrashed relegated New Milton by eight wickets at Fernhill.
As South Wilts chased down a rain trimmed 145-run target, so Morton took his SPL run tally for the season to 712, leaving weather marooned Academy captain Felix Organ (649) in his wake.
The win inched South Wilts to within three points of leaders St Cross Symondians, whose visit to Bemerton on Saturday will be a probable make or break affair for both sides.
Morton, who hit 13 fours and two sixes in his seventh fifty-plus score of the summer, led the way as South Wilts romped home with 11 overs to spare.
They initially bowled their winless and relegated hosts out for 176, New Milton losing opener James Adams before Raff Hussey biffed five boundaries in a breezy 25.
Hussey’s departure as the second of three victims for James Hibberd (3-13) triggered a mini-collapse which saw Milton lose three wickets for one run.
Newly wed Lee Beck (42) held things together as the Green & Golds plunged to 110-8 before the tail began to wag.
Nick Gargaro and Dan Loader started the ball rolling before recently appointed skipper George Watts cracked two sixes and four boundaries in a valiant 40, adding 41 for the tenth wicket with Josh Arnold before Arthur Godsal (3-26) ended the fight-back.
Rain trimmed South Wilts’ target to 145 off 38 overs – a task they completed without overdue fuss.
Jack Mynott (21) made half the 42-run opening stand with Morton who, sensing the need to get things done and dusted with more threatening weather about, put bat to ball.
He lost Will Wade cheaply, but had teenage debutant Jack Stearman (20 not out) for company as he fired South Wilts comfortably to their victory target.
As South Wilts chased down a rain trimmed 145-run target, so Morton took his SPL run tally for the season to 712, leaving weather marooned Academy captain Felix Organ (649) in his wake.
The win inched South Wilts to within three points of leaders St Cross Symondians, whose visit to Bemerton on Saturday will be a probable make or break affair for both sides.
Morton, who hit 13 fours and two sixes in his seventh fifty-plus score of the summer, led the way as South Wilts romped home with 11 overs to spare.
They initially bowled their winless and relegated hosts out for 176, New Milton losing opener James Adams before Raff Hussey biffed five boundaries in a breezy 25.
Hussey’s departure as the second of three victims for James Hibberd (3-13) triggered a mini-collapse which saw Milton lose three wickets for one run.
Newly wed Lee Beck (42) held things together as the Green & Golds plunged to 110-8 before the tail began to wag.
Nick Gargaro and Dan Loader started the ball rolling before recently appointed skipper George Watts cracked two sixes and four boundaries in a valiant 40, adding 41 for the tenth wicket with Josh Arnold before Arthur Godsal (3-26) ended the fight-back.
Rain trimmed South Wilts’ target to 145 off 38 overs – a task they completed without overdue fuss.
Jack Mynott (21) made half the 42-run opening stand with Morton who, sensing the need to get things done and dusted with more threatening weather about, put bat to ball.
He lost Will Wade cheaply, but had teenage debutant Jack Stearman (20 not out) for company as he fired South Wilts comfortably to their victory target.
