South Wilts batsman Peter Roe straight drives for four : Roy Honeybone.
South Wilts open their ECB Southern Premier League challenge against 2019 champions Bashley (Rydal) at Bemerton on Saturday (11.30), with rookie captain Ben Draper underlining the importance of his side making a winning start.
“The guys are saying how much stronger the Premier Division looks this season, with potentially all of the sides capable of beating each other, Draper said.
“St Cross Symondians are being heavily tipped as potential champions, but I’d like to think we’ll be one of the sides in the mix.
“It’s so important to start on a positive note and there’s no reason why we can’t beat Bashley.
“We had an unprecedented amount of match practice – playing four games in April must be some sort of record - with the batsmen spending plenty of time at the crease and the bowlers getting plenty of overs under their belts.”
It’s all 50-over cricket in the Premier Division this season – no all-day ‘time’ matches, the summer being split between red and white ball games, coloured kit being worn for the initial five weeks.
Lead batsman Tom Morton is already looking good, with 80 and 68 in his last two knocks – South Wilts piling up 317-9 before beating a Hampshire Academy XI by 56 runs in the final warm-up match at Bemerton.
The former first team captain was in awesome form against the county side, cracking ten fours and two sixes in his 68, one huge hit over the electronic scoreboard breaking some tiles on the roof of a house in Lower Road, a good 100 yards away !
Emerging
The other batsman who caught the eye was domiciled Australian Peter Rowe, who came in at six and hit a stylish 71.
If the former Melville first grade batsman hits his straps, Rowe will provide a significant boost to the South Wilts’ middle-order.
The Academy, who included new Hampshire signing Cameron Steel (45), made a decent fist of their reply after a wobble, created by Matt Burton (4-50), threatened to disrupt their run chase.
Left-hander Dubs Wood (63) – he’s the son of Julian Wood – and the emerging James Trodd (53) each hit half-centuries before Tom Lewis (3-40) called at halt at 216 all out.
Jimmy Adams was left high and dry at the non-striker’s end, having not faced a ball – having earlier showed his versatility by taking six catches .. in an unusual wicketkeeping role !
South Wilts will be without the influential Jack Mynott for all bar the Spring bank holiday weekend – the Coombe Bissett all-rounder having teaching commitments at Eastbourne College until early July.
Jack’s absence has given Tom Lewis a gilt-edged opportunity to stake a claim for a first team place, the bespectacled offie having emerged from the relative backwaters of 3rd XI cricket with some tight, difficult to get away bowling performances, including a pleasing three-wicket haul against the Academy XI.
Opening bowler Mark Burton is also steadily improving and, boosted by four Academy scalps last weekend, will have the responsibility of the new ball against Bashley, alongside either Arthur Godsal or Ben Huntley.
Scores: South Wilts 317-9 (Rowe 71, Morton 68, Harries 26, Hayward 25, Huntley 25, Broderick 3-35) Hampshire Academy XI 261 (Wood 63, Trodd 53, Steel 45, Burton 4-50, Lewis 3-40).
“The guys are saying how much stronger the Premier Division looks this season, with potentially all of the sides capable of beating each other, Draper said.
“St Cross Symondians are being heavily tipped as potential champions, but I’d like to think we’ll be one of the sides in the mix.
“It’s so important to start on a positive note and there’s no reason why we can’t beat Bashley.
“We had an unprecedented amount of match practice – playing four games in April must be some sort of record - with the batsmen spending plenty of time at the crease and the bowlers getting plenty of overs under their belts.”
It’s all 50-over cricket in the Premier Division this season – no all-day ‘time’ matches, the summer being split between red and white ball games, coloured kit being worn for the initial five weeks.
Lead batsman Tom Morton is already looking good, with 80 and 68 in his last two knocks – South Wilts piling up 317-9 before beating a Hampshire Academy XI by 56 runs in the final warm-up match at Bemerton.
The former first team captain was in awesome form against the county side, cracking ten fours and two sixes in his 68, one huge hit over the electronic scoreboard breaking some tiles on the roof of a house in Lower Road, a good 100 yards away !
Emerging
The other batsman who caught the eye was domiciled Australian Peter Rowe, who came in at six and hit a stylish 71.
If the former Melville first grade batsman hits his straps, Rowe will provide a significant boost to the South Wilts’ middle-order.
The Academy, who included new Hampshire signing Cameron Steel (45), made a decent fist of their reply after a wobble, created by Matt Burton (4-50), threatened to disrupt their run chase.
Left-hander Dubs Wood (63) – he’s the son of Julian Wood – and the emerging James Trodd (53) each hit half-centuries before Tom Lewis (3-40) called at halt at 216 all out.
Jimmy Adams was left high and dry at the non-striker’s end, having not faced a ball – having earlier showed his versatility by taking six catches .. in an unusual wicketkeeping role !
South Wilts will be without the influential Jack Mynott for all bar the Spring bank holiday weekend – the Coombe Bissett all-rounder having teaching commitments at Eastbourne College until early July.
Jack’s absence has given Tom Lewis a gilt-edged opportunity to stake a claim for a first team place, the bespectacled offie having emerged from the relative backwaters of 3rd XI cricket with some tight, difficult to get away bowling performances, including a pleasing three-wicket haul against the Academy XI.
Opening bowler Mark Burton is also steadily improving and, boosted by four Academy scalps last weekend, will have the responsibility of the new ball against Bashley, alongside either Arthur Godsal or Ben Huntley.
Scores: South Wilts 317-9 (Rowe 71, Morton 68, Harries 26, Hayward 25, Huntley 25, Broderick 3-35) Hampshire Academy XI 261 (Wood 63, Trodd 53, Steel 45, Burton 4-50, Lewis 3-40).
A chip off the old block ? Dubs Wood hoists a big leg-side six - something his father Julian did a fair few times !!
