Its now or never for St Cross Symondians’ whose prospects of ending the season as ECB Southern Premier Division champions rest entirely on the outcome of their visit to South Wilts on Saturday, 11.30.
If they win on the western outskirts of Salisbury, they will wipe out the 13-point lead South Wilts currently enjoy at the top and split the title race wide open again.
But if St Cross are beaten, the championship trophy will almost certainly spend the winter months in a Wiltshire safe house, writes Mike Vimpany
Their Bemerton visit coincides with the final four-week return of ‘white ball’ 50-over matches – St Cross having completed their ‘red ball’ campaign on a winning note with a 42-run victory over Lymington at the Green Jackets.
St Cross had to contend with seaming and swinging deliveries of Matt Metcalfe (2-9 in ten overs) against Lymington and plunged to 23-3, Tom Foyle and debutant Ben Foster falling to the Southern Premier League’s leading wicket taker.
Ed Ellis (54) (pictured) tailored the St Cross rescue package, adding 51 with Michael Haworth (20) and Joe Lewis (19) before becoming a third victim for island-based Dan Cox (3-41) at 135-6.
St Cross were 147-8 when South African Michael Booth – arguably batting several places too low in the batting order – struck two sixes and four fours in a quick fire 37 which, with patience from former Lymington skipper Simon Beetham (17 not out), saw the Winchester side to 204-9, Ben Attrill (2-39) having been on the receiving end of Booth’s blast.
Controversial
Lymington promptly collapsed to 17-4, with Terry Crabb (lying prostrate on the ground and out of his crease) controversially run out after an accidental collision with Booth, who was bowling at the time.
Working up a lively pace, Booth (2-37) then bowled Ben Rogers and Cox, and with Ryan Scott caught off Beetham, Lymington were in dire straights.
Fortunately for Lymington, fellow South African Ximus du Plooy (87) steadied the ship as he put on 46 for the fifth wicket with Ben Attrill (11) and then 62 for the seventh with Josh Proctor (21).
Lymington captain Matt Metcalfe (10) added another 29 for the eighth wicket, but the Pretoria-raised spin all-rounder was running out of partners and was last out attacking the St Cross bowlers, having hit 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Jack Bransgrove (3-18) took three of the last four wickets before Michael Haworth (2-31) had De Plooy caught behind off a skier by Ellis as Lymington closed 162 all out.
If they win on the western outskirts of Salisbury, they will wipe out the 13-point lead South Wilts currently enjoy at the top and split the title race wide open again.
But if St Cross are beaten, the championship trophy will almost certainly spend the winter months in a Wiltshire safe house, writes Mike Vimpany
Their Bemerton visit coincides with the final four-week return of ‘white ball’ 50-over matches – St Cross having completed their ‘red ball’ campaign on a winning note with a 42-run victory over Lymington at the Green Jackets.
St Cross had to contend with seaming and swinging deliveries of Matt Metcalfe (2-9 in ten overs) against Lymington and plunged to 23-3, Tom Foyle and debutant Ben Foster falling to the Southern Premier League’s leading wicket taker.
Ed Ellis (54) (pictured) tailored the St Cross rescue package, adding 51 with Michael Haworth (20) and Joe Lewis (19) before becoming a third victim for island-based Dan Cox (3-41) at 135-6.
St Cross were 147-8 when South African Michael Booth – arguably batting several places too low in the batting order – struck two sixes and four fours in a quick fire 37 which, with patience from former Lymington skipper Simon Beetham (17 not out), saw the Winchester side to 204-9, Ben Attrill (2-39) having been on the receiving end of Booth’s blast.
Controversial
Lymington promptly collapsed to 17-4, with Terry Crabb (lying prostrate on the ground and out of his crease) controversially run out after an accidental collision with Booth, who was bowling at the time.
Working up a lively pace, Booth (2-37) then bowled Ben Rogers and Cox, and with Ryan Scott caught off Beetham, Lymington were in dire straights.
Fortunately for Lymington, fellow South African Ximus du Plooy (87) steadied the ship as he put on 46 for the fifth wicket with Ben Attrill (11) and then 62 for the seventh with Josh Proctor (21).
Lymington captain Matt Metcalfe (10) added another 29 for the eighth wicket, but the Pretoria-raised spin all-rounder was running out of partners and was last out attacking the St Cross bowlers, having hit 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Jack Bransgrove (3-18) took three of the last four wickets before Michael Haworth (2-31) had De Plooy caught behind off a skier by Ellis as Lymington closed 162 all out.