Alfie Hussey hit a maiden unbeaten Southern Premier League half-century as New Milton pulled off an astonishing three-wicket win over Division 1 rivals Andover at Fernhill.
Rocking at 23-5 in response to Andover’s 145, the Green & Golds appeared to have little hope of winning their second match of the season.
But Hussey, left, whose appearances have been limited in recent seasons due to surgery on both knees, turned the match on its head, initially with Ryan Beck, then with the lower middle-order before Andover threw in a spate of wides to seal their own fate.
Hampshire’s Lewis McManus underlined the class between a county and club cricketer, appearing to have so much time at the crease as he compiled 66 (one six and ten fours) while only two other team-mates, Glynn Treagus and Matt Hooper (19 not out) managed to get into double figures.
Joe Hall (4-13) and South African Harlan Greig (3-26), who hails from the heart of the Cape wineries region, shared the bowling credits for New Milton.
Some inspired bowling by Babu Veettil (2-25) and Mike Adams got the Lions right back in the game as New Milton’s top order folded like a pack of cards.
Slowly but surely Hussey and Beck (34) turned the tide, the pair shifting the balance with a critical 57-run stand, which George Watts later improved in a 41-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Andover became ragged as Hussey and Dan Loader put bat to ball and the run gap closed. A liberal amount of loose deliveries were thrown in, none more so than in Andrew Duckworth’s final 11-ball over which ended the contest.
By then Hussey had compiled a richly deserved maiden match winning 56 not out and New Milton had got their second SPL1 victory chalked up.
Rocking at 23-5 in response to Andover’s 145, the Green & Golds appeared to have little hope of winning their second match of the season.
But Hussey, left, whose appearances have been limited in recent seasons due to surgery on both knees, turned the match on its head, initially with Ryan Beck, then with the lower middle-order before Andover threw in a spate of wides to seal their own fate.
Hampshire’s Lewis McManus underlined the class between a county and club cricketer, appearing to have so much time at the crease as he compiled 66 (one six and ten fours) while only two other team-mates, Glynn Treagus and Matt Hooper (19 not out) managed to get into double figures.
Joe Hall (4-13) and South African Harlan Greig (3-26), who hails from the heart of the Cape wineries region, shared the bowling credits for New Milton.
Some inspired bowling by Babu Veettil (2-25) and Mike Adams got the Lions right back in the game as New Milton’s top order folded like a pack of cards.
Slowly but surely Hussey and Beck (34) turned the tide, the pair shifting the balance with a critical 57-run stand, which George Watts later improved in a 41-run seventh-wicket partnership.
Andover became ragged as Hussey and Dan Loader put bat to ball and the run gap closed. A liberal amount of loose deliveries were thrown in, none more so than in Andrew Duckworth’s final 11-ball over which ended the contest.
By then Hussey had compiled a richly deserved maiden match winning 56 not out and New Milton had got their second SPL1 victory chalked up.
