A potent bowling attack left relegation threatened Sarisbury Athletic on the back foot after losing both openers for just seven runs at Fernhill. They never recovered as New Milton secured a seven-wicket win to move into second place in Southern Premier Division 1 behind new leaders Calmore Sports.
Put in on a damp top, the visitors got off to a shocking start, losing opener Ricky Rawlins for a duck when Dan Loader caught him off the bowling of George Watts (1-21). Fellow opener Will Bolton (1) soon followed him back to the pavilion following a quick-thinking run out by South African Harlan Greig with Sarisbury Athletic rocking at 7-2.
Put in on a damp top, the visitors got off to a shocking start, losing opener Ricky Rawlins for a duck when Dan Loader caught him off the bowling of George Watts (1-21). Fellow opener Will Bolton (1) soon followed him back to the pavilion following a quick-thinking run out by South African Harlan Greig with Sarisbury Athletic rocking at 7-2.
Only Jack Lovett (49) showed any actual ability to withstand the bowling of New Milton, putting together a respectable score. However, throughout his stubborn resistance, he lost batting partners at a steady rate.
Sarisbury skipper Josh Hill (6) and Simon Orr (0) were the next victims, both falling in near-identical fashion with Toby Edwards catching off Ed Bartlett's (2-24) bowling.
An attempted revival gathered momentum when Lovett and Rob Franklin (10) put 20 runs together for the fifth wicket before Dan Loader (1-18) bowled the latter at 65-5. That was followed by a 19-run stand which preceded the loss of Jed Bradley (6), who Campbell Golding caught off the superb bowling of Joe Hall (3-15).
However, when Lovett departed three runs later, the final three wickets fell for 14 runs, with New Milton chasing 102 to win.
Sarisbury's Chris Sanders (10) batted a brave innings before Hall took his wicket, but the final two, Tom Kitcher and Philip Jewell, fell for ducks off the bowling of Greig.
Sarisbury skipper Josh Hill (6) and Simon Orr (0) were the next victims, both falling in near-identical fashion with Toby Edwards catching off Ed Bartlett's (2-24) bowling.
An attempted revival gathered momentum when Lovett and Rob Franklin (10) put 20 runs together for the fifth wicket before Dan Loader (1-18) bowled the latter at 65-5. That was followed by a 19-run stand which preceded the loss of Jed Bradley (6), who Campbell Golding caught off the superb bowling of Joe Hall (3-15).
However, when Lovett departed three runs later, the final three wickets fell for 14 runs, with New Milton chasing 102 to win.
Sarisbury's Chris Sanders (10) batted a brave innings before Hall took his wicket, but the final two, Tom Kitcher and Philip Jewell, fell for ducks off the bowling of Greig.
New Milton made a bright start, and they would only lose three wickets on their way to a commanding victory.
Opener Toby Edwards fired off 13 runs, including two fours, before Rawlins caught him off Sanders (1-14). New Milton's top scorers, Golding (35 not out) and Greig (20), then placed the hosts in a dominant position after putting together a 31-run partnership for the second wicket when the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Franklin (2-27).
Experienced New Milton all-rounder Lee Beck then added 17 vital runs, including two sixes, before his departure brought Richard Wilson to the crease. Together with Golding, the duo added the 28 runs needed to secure a resounding seven-wicket win with only 18.3 overs gone.
The win moves New Milton up to second, as the league begins to resemble a three-horse race with leaders Calmore Sports, New Milton and third-placed Totton & Eling having pulled away from the rest.
Former Hampshire batsman Jason Laney hit a half-century, but once he was dismissed St Cross Symondians II lost nine wickets for 47 runs and were beaten by 99 runs by Village Cup quarter-finalists Calmore Sports at the Green Jackets Ground.
Laney (50) was stumped by Max Bailey at 72-1 after which St Cross collapsed to 119 all out, teenager Liam Carty taking 3-27 having been promoted from the second team.
Earlier, openers Matty Taylor (59) and Ben Johns (38) laid a century foundation for Calmore’s 218-6, skipper Mark Lavelle hitting 25 not out. Callum Whitlock took 3-39. The win took Calmore Sports top.
Opener Toby Edwards fired off 13 runs, including two fours, before Rawlins caught him off Sanders (1-14). New Milton's top scorers, Golding (35 not out) and Greig (20), then placed the hosts in a dominant position after putting together a 31-run partnership for the second wicket when the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Franklin (2-27).
Experienced New Milton all-rounder Lee Beck then added 17 vital runs, including two sixes, before his departure brought Richard Wilson to the crease. Together with Golding, the duo added the 28 runs needed to secure a resounding seven-wicket win with only 18.3 overs gone.
The win moves New Milton up to second, as the league begins to resemble a three-horse race with leaders Calmore Sports, New Milton and third-placed Totton & Eling having pulled away from the rest.
Former Hampshire batsman Jason Laney hit a half-century, but once he was dismissed St Cross Symondians II lost nine wickets for 47 runs and were beaten by 99 runs by Village Cup quarter-finalists Calmore Sports at the Green Jackets Ground.
Laney (50) was stumped by Max Bailey at 72-1 after which St Cross collapsed to 119 all out, teenager Liam Carty taking 3-27 having been promoted from the second team.
Earlier, openers Matty Taylor (59) and Ben Johns (38) laid a century foundation for Calmore’s 218-6, skipper Mark Lavelle hitting 25 not out. Callum Whitlock took 3-39. The win took Calmore Sports top.