Hook & Newnham Basics lost eight wickets for 21 runs – five of them with the KGV electronic scoreboard glued on 68 - before plunging to an inevitable defeat by ECB Southern Premier League rivals Lymington.
Leg spinner Danny Cox, who travels from his parental home on the Isle of Wight to play for Lymington each week, sent Hook into freefall with a 6-33 return.
A collapse of such seismic proportions appeared farthest from anyone’s minds as Hook openers Ben Thane (35) and Harry Warner (29) punched holes in the Lymington outfield on 11 occasions as the total advanced to 68 without loss.
But midway through the 19th over and the fourth sent down by Cox, Thane was caught at slip by Terry Crabb – and Hook’s wickets began to fall like dominos.
Two overs later Harry Robson was smartly stumped by Grayshott-based Ali Wheble off Cox.
Kiwi seamer James Hartshorn, returning after lacerating his knee in a football warm-up before Lymington’s recent home defeat by the Hampshire Academy, then ripped out Rhodes Franklin and Warner – the Hook score still on 68 !
None of the Hook batsmen appeared to have a clue how to play Cox, who sent down a succession of maiden overs.
Reboot
The 24-year old Hartshorn (3-33), who played for Wellington in New Zealand’s Plunkett Shield last winter, then took a third wicket in seven deliveries by having Liam Doran caught. Hook 68-5.
The Buckingham brothers Matt and Josh then each struck a boundary to reboot the sleeping scoreboard – but the revival only lasted 11 runs before Cox removed the pair in successive overs. Hook now 81-7.
An eighth wicket fell inside a chaotic 17 overs before ninth-wicket pair Aniket Divecha (19) and Lewis Watts (13*) added 25 before Cox completed his second six wicket Premier League haul by whipping out Divecha and last man Oli May in successive balls. Hook 114 all out .. from 68-0 !
Lymington’s batters made light work of the reply, with Ryan Scott, back on opening duty after undergoing serious groin surgery, eager to make up for lost time by belting two sixes and seven boundaries in a rapid 46, one of his ‘maximums’ being the winning it.
Ben Rogers (29) and Josh Royan, with a five-boundary laden 23, swept Lymington to a handsome eight-wicket win – and Hook into panic mode after a second consecutive batting catastrophe.
They were skittled for 58 by St Cross Symondians the previous week.
Hook cricket manager Vince Gardner reflected: “St Cross was a mix of excellent bowling (by them) and poor shot selection.
“Lymington was a similar story but this time conditions were better to bat, so actually more of a disappointment. 69-0 became 80-8 and 114 all out. Danny Cox bowled very well.”
Leg spinner Danny Cox, who travels from his parental home on the Isle of Wight to play for Lymington each week, sent Hook into freefall with a 6-33 return.
A collapse of such seismic proportions appeared farthest from anyone’s minds as Hook openers Ben Thane (35) and Harry Warner (29) punched holes in the Lymington outfield on 11 occasions as the total advanced to 68 without loss.
But midway through the 19th over and the fourth sent down by Cox, Thane was caught at slip by Terry Crabb – and Hook’s wickets began to fall like dominos.
Two overs later Harry Robson was smartly stumped by Grayshott-based Ali Wheble off Cox.
Kiwi seamer James Hartshorn, returning after lacerating his knee in a football warm-up before Lymington’s recent home defeat by the Hampshire Academy, then ripped out Rhodes Franklin and Warner – the Hook score still on 68 !
None of the Hook batsmen appeared to have a clue how to play Cox, who sent down a succession of maiden overs.
Reboot
The 24-year old Hartshorn (3-33), who played for Wellington in New Zealand’s Plunkett Shield last winter, then took a third wicket in seven deliveries by having Liam Doran caught. Hook 68-5.
The Buckingham brothers Matt and Josh then each struck a boundary to reboot the sleeping scoreboard – but the revival only lasted 11 runs before Cox removed the pair in successive overs. Hook now 81-7.
An eighth wicket fell inside a chaotic 17 overs before ninth-wicket pair Aniket Divecha (19) and Lewis Watts (13*) added 25 before Cox completed his second six wicket Premier League haul by whipping out Divecha and last man Oli May in successive balls. Hook 114 all out .. from 68-0 !
Lymington’s batters made light work of the reply, with Ryan Scott, back on opening duty after undergoing serious groin surgery, eager to make up for lost time by belting two sixes and seven boundaries in a rapid 46, one of his ‘maximums’ being the winning it.
Ben Rogers (29) and Josh Royan, with a five-boundary laden 23, swept Lymington to a handsome eight-wicket win – and Hook into panic mode after a second consecutive batting catastrophe.
They were skittled for 58 by St Cross Symondians the previous week.
Hook cricket manager Vince Gardner reflected: “St Cross was a mix of excellent bowling (by them) and poor shot selection.
“Lymington was a similar story but this time conditions were better to bat, so actually more of a disappointment. 69-0 became 80-8 and 114 all out. Danny Cox bowled very well.”