 Tom Prest, fifth century of season [Roy Honeybone] |  George Metzger hit 80* |
Teenagers Tom Prest, with his second Premier Division century in the past four weeks, and George Metzger’s unbeaten 80 swept the Hampshire Academy to a seven-wicket win, which put an untimely dent in Bashley Rydal’s bid to land a maiden championship.
The pair shared a 139-run partnership as the Academy cruised past Bashley’s 214 all out with some comfort.
Bashley’s second defeat of the season led to their lead over Lymington at the top of the ECB Southern Premier Division title being trimmed to 11 points.
Bashley never really got any shape to their innings and were on the back foot directly makeshift opening pair Tom Jacques and Alex Turner were removed before the score got into double figures.
Michael Porter (48) steadied things, adding 56 with the out-of-touch Ben Walker, who is desperate for a return to form having made only 23 runs in his past five knocks.
Tom Friend (56) did his best to glue the middle-order together, his partnership with Chris Vaughan (17) taking Bashley to 128-4 before the Academy’s spin attack created further inroads, three more wickets falling for 14 runs.
The subsequent 82-run partnership between George Wilson (29) and George Pardoe (41 not out) ensured Bashley had a reasonable total to defend, but Ajeet Dale (4-40) took the last three wickets in four balls to negate them bettering 214 all out.
Prest took the initiative for the Academy, scoring 37 while Tom South and Fletcha Middleton departed, but those dismissals were the last joy Bashley enjoyed for some while.
The Canford prodigy moved serenely on, hitting one six and nine fours, and enjoying the century stand with ECB Young Lions bound Metzger, who also breached the boundary rope nine times.
Shortly after completing his fifth hundred of the season, Prest fell to the part-time spin of Alex Turner, one of eight bowlers Porter tried in a vain attempt to stave off defeat.
The pair shared a 139-run partnership as the Academy cruised past Bashley’s 214 all out with some comfort.
Bashley’s second defeat of the season led to their lead over Lymington at the top of the ECB Southern Premier Division title being trimmed to 11 points.
Bashley never really got any shape to their innings and were on the back foot directly makeshift opening pair Tom Jacques and Alex Turner were removed before the score got into double figures.
Michael Porter (48) steadied things, adding 56 with the out-of-touch Ben Walker, who is desperate for a return to form having made only 23 runs in his past five knocks.
Tom Friend (56) did his best to glue the middle-order together, his partnership with Chris Vaughan (17) taking Bashley to 128-4 before the Academy’s spin attack created further inroads, three more wickets falling for 14 runs.
The subsequent 82-run partnership between George Wilson (29) and George Pardoe (41 not out) ensured Bashley had a reasonable total to defend, but Ajeet Dale (4-40) took the last three wickets in four balls to negate them bettering 214 all out.
Prest took the initiative for the Academy, scoring 37 while Tom South and Fletcha Middleton departed, but those dismissals were the last joy Bashley enjoyed for some while.
The Canford prodigy moved serenely on, hitting one six and nine fours, and enjoying the century stand with ECB Young Lions bound Metzger, who also breached the boundary rope nine times.
Shortly after completing his fifth hundred of the season, Prest fell to the part-time spin of Alex Turner, one of eight bowlers Porter tried in a vain attempt to stave off defeat.
