Amid some of tightest security ever seen on a local cricket ground, Hampshire Seniors beat their Surrey Sixties counterparts by six wickets behind closed doors at Bashley (Rydal) - a perfect tonic ahead of Tuesday's National Championship match against Kent at St Helen's, Southsea.
The fact that over 500 runs were scored was almost immaterial as surveillance cameras picked up every move by would-be spectators trying to catch a glimpse of the action, those that even dared to crane their necks over the Bashley Common Road gate were promptly sent on their way by jobsworths patrolling the perimeters. The polo ponies in the adjoining field were even obliged to wear blinkers in case they caught sight of either Chris Wheeler (62) or Geoff Beale (56) in full cry as Hampshire chased down Surrey's 252-4 to win by six wickets with seven balls to spare.
Surrey 252-4 (Shepherd 62, Evans 59, Horton 58, Ross 49) Hampshire 254-4 (Wheeler 62*, Beale 54, Trestrail 32, Britton 28*).
Hampshire completed a veterans double with a six-wicket with at 70s level - the winning runs at Twyford's picturesque Hunters Park coming off the last ball !
Surrey 200-8 (Waller 69, Paine 4-23) Hampshire 201-7 (Blacky 53*, Watson 32, Woolf 27).
The fact that over 500 runs were scored was almost immaterial as surveillance cameras picked up every move by would-be spectators trying to catch a glimpse of the action, those that even dared to crane their necks over the Bashley Common Road gate were promptly sent on their way by jobsworths patrolling the perimeters. The polo ponies in the adjoining field were even obliged to wear blinkers in case they caught sight of either Chris Wheeler (62) or Geoff Beale (56) in full cry as Hampshire chased down Surrey's 252-4 to win by six wickets with seven balls to spare.
Surrey 252-4 (Shepherd 62, Evans 59, Horton 58, Ross 49) Hampshire 254-4 (Wheeler 62*, Beale 54, Trestrail 32, Britton 28*).
Hampshire completed a veterans double with a six-wicket with at 70s level - the winning runs at Twyford's picturesque Hunters Park coming off the last ball !
Surrey 200-8 (Waller 69, Paine 4-23) Hampshire 201-7 (Blacky 53*, Watson 32, Woolf 27).
