Tom Cowley (Roy Honeybone)
Tom Cowley hit a maiden British Gas Southern League hundred as South Wilts seconds gave their prospects of Division 2 survival an enormous boost with a three-wicket win over table topping Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.
He made 102 and shared a century second-wicket stand with Army batsman Tom Berzins (53), which laid the foundations to a 254-run chase which South Wilts achieved with four balls to spare.
“It was a case of going out and batting sensibly. No frills, just getting my head down,” explained Cowley, whose groundsman’s duties at the Ageas Bowl precluded him from playing for South Wilts’ first team against Bashley (Rydal).
He hit three sixes in his innings but only made a trio of boundaries during his 135-ball stay at the crease.
“I lost four partners along the way, so had to concentrate and make sure I did my job properly.”
Cowley admitted “there was a bit of panic” when he was eventually dismissed at 228-6, but “the lads kept their heads and saw us through.”
The three-wicket victory lifted South Wilts out of the immediate danger zone and above Trojans, who were beaten by Paultons.
Earlier, Totton lifted themselves from an uncertain 104-4 (Mark Mbofana 40) to 252-9 on the back of Kieron Geyle’s 71, a knock which included three maximums and six fours.
The Zimbabwean shared important stands with Oli Perrin (30) and Ethan Taylor (24), while left-arm spinner Tom Pearce produced a fine 5-37 for South Wilts.
South Wilts’ resume their survival and chase a fifth successive win when Langley Manor visit Bemerton on Saturday – Rob Pittman’s prospects being boosted by the return of key Army all-rounder Stephen Booth for the rest of the season.
Old Tauntonians & Romsey fell to a four-run defeat by Sparsholt in a match reduced to 45 overs because of rain. They lost six wickets for 35 runs chasing Sparsholt’s 140-7 – and almost turned things around through Joe Welch.
Spin pair Nick Doubell (4-27) and Jeremy Frith (3-21) reduced OTs from 67-2 (Iain Woohall 28) to 102-8 before Welch cracked 34 and almost put the Romsey hosts back in the game.
But, with victory in sight, Mike Howarth bowled Welch and one run later the game was all over.
Bowling heroes Frith (37) and Doubell (22) also top scored in Sparsholt’s 140-7.
He made 102 and shared a century second-wicket stand with Army batsman Tom Berzins (53), which laid the foundations to a 254-run chase which South Wilts achieved with four balls to spare.
“It was a case of going out and batting sensibly. No frills, just getting my head down,” explained Cowley, whose groundsman’s duties at the Ageas Bowl precluded him from playing for South Wilts’ first team against Bashley (Rydal).
He hit three sixes in his innings but only made a trio of boundaries during his 135-ball stay at the crease.
“I lost four partners along the way, so had to concentrate and make sure I did my job properly.”
Cowley admitted “there was a bit of panic” when he was eventually dismissed at 228-6, but “the lads kept their heads and saw us through.”
The three-wicket victory lifted South Wilts out of the immediate danger zone and above Trojans, who were beaten by Paultons.
Earlier, Totton lifted themselves from an uncertain 104-4 (Mark Mbofana 40) to 252-9 on the back of Kieron Geyle’s 71, a knock which included three maximums and six fours.
The Zimbabwean shared important stands with Oli Perrin (30) and Ethan Taylor (24), while left-arm spinner Tom Pearce produced a fine 5-37 for South Wilts.
South Wilts’ resume their survival and chase a fifth successive win when Langley Manor visit Bemerton on Saturday – Rob Pittman’s prospects being boosted by the return of key Army all-rounder Stephen Booth for the rest of the season.
Old Tauntonians & Romsey fell to a four-run defeat by Sparsholt in a match reduced to 45 overs because of rain. They lost six wickets for 35 runs chasing Sparsholt’s 140-7 – and almost turned things around through Joe Welch.
Spin pair Nick Doubell (4-27) and Jeremy Frith (3-21) reduced OTs from 67-2 (Iain Woohall 28) to 102-8 before Welch cracked 34 and almost put the Romsey hosts back in the game.
But, with victory in sight, Mike Howarth bowled Welch and one run later the game was all over.
Bowling heroes Frith (37) and Doubell (22) also top scored in Sparsholt’s 140-7.
