Jack Mynott : Century after two weeks away [Roy Honeybone]
Leaders South Wilts are suddenly casting an anxious glance or two over their shoulders as St Cross Symondians launch a late bid to whisk the ECB Southern Premier League leadership from under their noses.
The Winchester club is hot on South Wilts’ tails at the top going into the final five-match leg of ‘white ball’ 50-over cricket which begin on Saturday.
Nine points currently separate the leading pair, whose head-to-head meeting at Bemerton on August 18 may well be a championship decider.
When the limited-overs matches resume, South Wilts will entertain Lymington, St Cross Symondians go to Havant, and third placed Burridge, who are still in the fray, host Basingstoke & North Hants.
South Wilts began the last phase of all-day cricket with an 18-point lad, but had their position weakened when they were unable to force a victory over Alton.
They took the last seven Alton wickets for only 30 runs, but were unable to force a precious victory against the Brewers at Bemerton.
Having posted a competitive 264 themselves, they had nine Alton wickets down for 209 at stumps and had to be content with a ‘winning draw.’
A tense finale saw Alton lose three wickets for only four runs, but Arthur Godsal (4-16) got only two deliveries at last man Dan Scott, who survived the ordeal.
The draw meant their lead at the top of the Premier Division had been trimmed to a mere nine points by St Cross Symondians, who thrashed Bashley (Rydal).
Jack Mynott’s second Premier Division hundred of the season underpinned the South Wilts total – the batting/spin all-rounder having arrived at the crease with his side wobbling at 24-2.
Tom Morton (59), with his sixth half-century of the season, took the score on to 85 before Mynott and Ben Draper (39) doubled the total in a key mid-innings stand.
Mike Salmon (4-47) and Julian Ballinger (3-71) created inroads for Alton, but Mynott continued to shape the innings and went on to hit ten fours in a fine 108.
Alton were in the game for a long while after that.
Hampshire Under-17 prospect Abhay Gonella anchored the Brewers’ response and with Michael Heffernan (47) provided the visitors with a perfect 112-run start.
Gonella went on to hit 90 (one six and ten fours) and with support from Alex Hammond (29) and skipper Dan Harris eased Alton to a threatening 179-2.
The Guildford RGS student’s dismissal at 195 unlocked the door for South Wilts, with Godsal and Luke Evans (2-40) making inroads.
South Wilts suddenly seized the initiative, but despite the late clatter of wickets weren’t quite able to press home a victory.
The Winchester club is hot on South Wilts’ tails at the top going into the final five-match leg of ‘white ball’ 50-over cricket which begin on Saturday.
Nine points currently separate the leading pair, whose head-to-head meeting at Bemerton on August 18 may well be a championship decider.
When the limited-overs matches resume, South Wilts will entertain Lymington, St Cross Symondians go to Havant, and third placed Burridge, who are still in the fray, host Basingstoke & North Hants.
South Wilts began the last phase of all-day cricket with an 18-point lad, but had their position weakened when they were unable to force a victory over Alton.
They took the last seven Alton wickets for only 30 runs, but were unable to force a precious victory against the Brewers at Bemerton.
Having posted a competitive 264 themselves, they had nine Alton wickets down for 209 at stumps and had to be content with a ‘winning draw.’
A tense finale saw Alton lose three wickets for only four runs, but Arthur Godsal (4-16) got only two deliveries at last man Dan Scott, who survived the ordeal.
The draw meant their lead at the top of the Premier Division had been trimmed to a mere nine points by St Cross Symondians, who thrashed Bashley (Rydal).
Jack Mynott’s second Premier Division hundred of the season underpinned the South Wilts total – the batting/spin all-rounder having arrived at the crease with his side wobbling at 24-2.
Tom Morton (59), with his sixth half-century of the season, took the score on to 85 before Mynott and Ben Draper (39) doubled the total in a key mid-innings stand.
Mike Salmon (4-47) and Julian Ballinger (3-71) created inroads for Alton, but Mynott continued to shape the innings and went on to hit ten fours in a fine 108.
Alton were in the game for a long while after that.
Hampshire Under-17 prospect Abhay Gonella anchored the Brewers’ response and with Michael Heffernan (47) provided the visitors with a perfect 112-run start.
Gonella went on to hit 90 (one six and ten fours) and with support from Alex Hammond (29) and skipper Dan Harris eased Alton to a threatening 179-2.
The Guildford RGS student’s dismissal at 195 unlocked the door for South Wilts, with Godsal and Luke Evans (2-40) making inroads.
South Wilts suddenly seized the initiative, but despite the late clatter of wickets weren’t quite able to press home a victory.
Abhay Gonella [Roy Honeybone]
