Harlan Greig hit 76 for New Milton
New Milton and Calmore Sports are setting the pace in Southern Premier Division 1 – four points separating the pair after three completed rounds of matches.
The Green & Golds maintained their winning start with a narrow nine-run win over Sparsholt, who suffered their first loss, while Ville Cup hopefuls Calmore won by six wickets at Andover.
In typical manner, Toby Edwards (24) got New Milton away to a flier, but the main progress was made by South African Harlan Greig, who struck two towering sixes and 12 fours in his 76, and Lee Beck (43), who shared a century partnership. New Milton’s 202-9, brought to a rapid close by a Dan Sumner hat-trick, was competitive.
The Green & Golds maintained their winning start with a narrow nine-run win over Sparsholt, who suffered their first loss, while Ville Cup hopefuls Calmore won by six wickets at Andover.
In typical manner, Toby Edwards (24) got New Milton away to a flier, but the main progress was made by South African Harlan Greig, who struck two towering sixes and 12 fours in his 76, and Lee Beck (43), who shared a century partnership. New Milton’s 202-9, brought to a rapid close by a Dan Sumner hat-trick, was competitive.
 Got him ! George Watts gets an lbw. |  Dan Sumner 51 for Sparsholt [pictures Bob Selley] |
George Watts struck an immediate blow by removing Steve Taylor leg before, but Sumner (51), newly recruited from promoted Hampshire League Division 2 side Oakley, took the initiative and along with Lewis Mitchard (23) and Liam Doran (21) kept the scoreboard ticking.
Ash Collison, a prodigy of Ryan Beck’s coaching master class, made a tidy 35 against his admiring former Milton team-mates as the visitors moved closer to their target, but as the score advanced, so did the wickets column, upwards.
Requiring six runs an over on the compact Norman Edwards ground, Sparsholt were favourites to win – but Milton broke through at 164-5, with Campbell Golding (3-28) and Lee Beck (2-8) infiltrating the lower order.
Dave Banks (29) fell leave Sparsholt with ten runs to win off the last over but a superb diving catch by Watts and a nick to gloveman Alfie Hussey finished the innings in a hurry, with the hosts 193 all out. The last four wickets fell for six runs.
Calmore’s win at London Road was far more comprehensive – early breakthroughs by the miserly Steve Wright (2-10 off eight) and Oxford University’s Ben Fisher (2-41) leaving the lions caged at 27-4.
Charlie Ayers (33), Babu Veettil (30) and Andy Duckworth (23) revived their fortunes before spinner Ben Perry took 4-33 to end the Andover innings at 133.
Calmore reached an uncertain 58-3 after a wicket double by Ayers, but any hopes his side had of defending such a modest total were blown away by Shawn Taylor’s no nonsense 55.
Ash Collison, a prodigy of Ryan Beck’s coaching master class, made a tidy 35 against his admiring former Milton team-mates as the visitors moved closer to their target, but as the score advanced, so did the wickets column, upwards.
Requiring six runs an over on the compact Norman Edwards ground, Sparsholt were favourites to win – but Milton broke through at 164-5, with Campbell Golding (3-28) and Lee Beck (2-8) infiltrating the lower order.
Dave Banks (29) fell leave Sparsholt with ten runs to win off the last over but a superb diving catch by Watts and a nick to gloveman Alfie Hussey finished the innings in a hurry, with the hosts 193 all out. The last four wickets fell for six runs.
Calmore’s win at London Road was far more comprehensive – early breakthroughs by the miserly Steve Wright (2-10 off eight) and Oxford University’s Ben Fisher (2-41) leaving the lions caged at 27-4.
Charlie Ayers (33), Babu Veettil (30) and Andy Duckworth (23) revived their fortunes before spinner Ben Perry took 4-33 to end the Andover innings at 133.
Calmore reached an uncertain 58-3 after a wicket double by Ayers, but any hopes his side had of defending such a modest total were blown away by Shawn Taylor’s no nonsense 55.
