Tom Morton has returned with typical aggression [Terry Nash ]
Bashley (Rydal) lost by three runs to South Wilts in the only ECB Southern Premier Division match to survive the mid-afternoon rain which swept across the region, washing out all bar five of the scheduled programme.
The BCG contest between two of the Premier Division’s leading lights went to the wire, with South Wilts narrowly defending 243-6 after Bashley had clawed their way back from 136-6 to needing five runs to win off Ryan Murray’s final ball, with their last pair at the crease.
But an absorbing affair ended on a sour note with Bashley distinctly unhappy about a number of umpiring decisions and skipper Michael Porter making his feelings known when the players left the field.
The South Wilts innings was based around a century second-wicket partnership between Tom Morton (73) and Will Wade (49), who eased the visitors to 125-1 at the mid-point of the innings, at which point the latter was superbly run out by a direct hit
Morton showed all of past characteristics, blasting 12 boundaries as the 100 came up after 18 overs.
Wade, filling out physically in his late teenage years, now strikes the ball a lot harder and, with a fifty beckoning, was unlucky to be the victim of some excellent fielding.
His departure prompted a mini wobble with Bournemouth University all-rounder Tim Taylor (3-46), the architect of Wade’s demise, taking three wickets in six overs.
The exit of Ben Draper (21) left the South Wilts innings at a potential crossroads at 176-5.
But Arthur Godsal (46 not out) and James Hibberd (19 not out) tilted the balance, their unbroken pre-tea stand taking South Wilts to 243-6.
The BCG contest between two of the Premier Division’s leading lights went to the wire, with South Wilts narrowly defending 243-6 after Bashley had clawed their way back from 136-6 to needing five runs to win off Ryan Murray’s final ball, with their last pair at the crease.
But an absorbing affair ended on a sour note with Bashley distinctly unhappy about a number of umpiring decisions and skipper Michael Porter making his feelings known when the players left the field.
The South Wilts innings was based around a century second-wicket partnership between Tom Morton (73) and Will Wade (49), who eased the visitors to 125-1 at the mid-point of the innings, at which point the latter was superbly run out by a direct hit
Morton showed all of past characteristics, blasting 12 boundaries as the 100 came up after 18 overs.
Wade, filling out physically in his late teenage years, now strikes the ball a lot harder and, with a fifty beckoning, was unlucky to be the victim of some excellent fielding.
His departure prompted a mini wobble with Bournemouth University all-rounder Tim Taylor (3-46), the architect of Wade’s demise, taking three wickets in six overs.
The exit of Ben Draper (21) left the South Wilts innings at a potential crossroads at 176-5.
But Arthur Godsal (46 not out) and James Hibberd (19 not out) tilted the balance, their unbroken pre-tea stand taking South Wilts to 243-6.
Tom Morton appeals successfully as Michael Porter is given out leg before wicket [Roy Honeybone]
James Hibberd, who finished with 4-43, reduced Bashley to 41-2 in the 11th over.
Taylor (16) and Porter lifted the reply to 85-3 when the Leicestershire-raised university media student was trapped leg before.
Confident after his unbeaten century at Alton a week earlier, Porter (44, seven fours) was timing the ball nicely and at 116-3 (25 overs) was steering Bashley into a threatening position.
But his contribution ended abruptly when Jack Mynott, bowling his off-spin round the wicket, got a ‘leg before’ verdict from umpire John Attridge as Porter attempted a low pull shot.
It fuelled ill-feeling and when Phil Morris was superbly run out by Godsal and Josh Digby fell to Mynott (2-28) Bashley were 136-6.
The tide was turning towards South Wilts, who maintained the pressure through their constant appealing.
But Premier Division sides bat in depth and a battling 62-run partnership between the emerging Patrick Holly (49) and Sam Thomson (24) put the outcome back in the melting pot.
A slick piece of glovework by Morton curtailed Holly’s fight-back one run shy of a deserved half-century.
Bashley lost two wickets at 198, but with 33 runs required off the last five overs, Thomson and Brad Currie (26 not out) gave it a real crack.
They took 12 runs off the next two overs, but found nine runs off Murray’s final over a step too far and closed four runs short of victory at 240-9.
Taylor (16) and Porter lifted the reply to 85-3 when the Leicestershire-raised university media student was trapped leg before.
Confident after his unbeaten century at Alton a week earlier, Porter (44, seven fours) was timing the ball nicely and at 116-3 (25 overs) was steering Bashley into a threatening position.
But his contribution ended abruptly when Jack Mynott, bowling his off-spin round the wicket, got a ‘leg before’ verdict from umpire John Attridge as Porter attempted a low pull shot.
It fuelled ill-feeling and when Phil Morris was superbly run out by Godsal and Josh Digby fell to Mynott (2-28) Bashley were 136-6.
The tide was turning towards South Wilts, who maintained the pressure through their constant appealing.
But Premier Division sides bat in depth and a battling 62-run partnership between the emerging Patrick Holly (49) and Sam Thomson (24) put the outcome back in the melting pot.
A slick piece of glovework by Morton curtailed Holly’s fight-back one run shy of a deserved half-century.
Bashley lost two wickets at 198, but with 33 runs required off the last five overs, Thomson and Brad Currie (26 not out) gave it a real crack.
They took 12 runs off the next two overs, but found nine runs off Murray’s final over a step too far and closed four runs short of victory at 240-9.
Patrick Holly led Bashley's fightback [Roy Honeybone]
