Michael Porter hit an unbeaten 60 as Bashley (Rydal) bowled South Wilts off the top of the ECB British Gas Southern Premier League with a five-wicket victory – and rekindled their own title hopes in the process.
A month ago after two batting calamities against Burridge and Havant, Bashley looked to be out of the frame.
But, with none of their remaining four 50-over games against potential championship rivals, Bashley can be optimistic about their prospects having cut the deficit between themselves and table toppers Lymington to 15 points.
Porter’s key fourth-wicket partnership with Josh Digby (29) calmed Bashley nerves after the visitors had slipped to 65-3 in response to South Wilts’ 169 all out.
They had lost South Australian Patrick Page (26) six runs earlier and South Wilts sniffed a chance if they could breakthrough again.
But Porter, with only one previous fifty-plus score this summer, steadied the ship, eking out precious runs which set Bashley on their way before Digby was caught at slip at 139-4 off Luke Evans (4-28). The pair added 64.
Porter (pictured above by Roy Honeybone) went on to hit ten boundaries in his match winning 60 not out.
Earlier, South Wilts made a steady start through Will Wade (29) and Owain Phillips (24), but were generally kept in check by some steady Bashley bowling.
Jack Mynott (39) top scored, but from 112-3 the innings gradually the innings subsided - Digby taking 3-24 – and it needed a handy knock from James Hibberd (20 not out) at the tail end to give the South Wilts’ bowlers a modest total to defend.
A month ago after two batting calamities against Burridge and Havant, Bashley looked to be out of the frame.
But, with none of their remaining four 50-over games against potential championship rivals, Bashley can be optimistic about their prospects having cut the deficit between themselves and table toppers Lymington to 15 points.
Porter’s key fourth-wicket partnership with Josh Digby (29) calmed Bashley nerves after the visitors had slipped to 65-3 in response to South Wilts’ 169 all out.
They had lost South Australian Patrick Page (26) six runs earlier and South Wilts sniffed a chance if they could breakthrough again.
But Porter, with only one previous fifty-plus score this summer, steadied the ship, eking out precious runs which set Bashley on their way before Digby was caught at slip at 139-4 off Luke Evans (4-28). The pair added 64.
Porter (pictured above by Roy Honeybone) went on to hit ten boundaries in his match winning 60 not out.
Earlier, South Wilts made a steady start through Will Wade (29) and Owain Phillips (24), but were generally kept in check by some steady Bashley bowling.
Jack Mynott (39) top scored, but from 112-3 the innings gradually the innings subsided - Digby taking 3-24 – and it needed a handy knock from James Hibberd (20 not out) at the tail end to give the South Wilts’ bowlers a modest total to defend.
South Wilts opener Owain Phillips tees up a catch to Tom Gates.
