'Marvellous Marvin' Williams returns career-best 7-26 v South Wilts [Roy Honeybone]
South Wilts were derailed by the ‘Ocean Express’ when a spell of 7-26 by South African pace bowler 'Marvellous Marvin' Williams sent them crashing to a four-wicket defeat by defending ECB Southern Premier Division champions St Cross Symondians at Winchester’s Green Jackets ground.
Williams, nicknamed the Ocean Express at his Cape Town club Constantia, produced the best SPL figures of the season as South Wilts tumbled to 35-5 and eventually 109 all out.
Nipping the ball off the seam, Williams ripped the heart out of South Wilts’ top order with a devastating pre-lunch spell, which saw Arthur Godsal, Ralf Hussey, James Hayward and Ben Draper depart.
The visitors lost four wickets for three runs at one stage as South Wilts fell from 32-1 to 35-5 in the 20th over.
That was after the injured Matt Haworth had Tom Morton caught behind for a third ball duck.
Australian Peter Rowe (49) dropped anchor and formed a valuable partnership with Joe Cranch (21), but Williams returned after lunch, taking another three wickets.
Opener Rowe was eventually eighth man out at 96, caught and bowled low down by Harry Came.
Six South Wilts batsmen failed to trouble returning scorer Adrian James in the team's 109 all out.
St Cross didn’t find what appeared a relatively academic target straightforward, dropping to 34-4 themselves, Will Harries taking two of the wickets.
But Ed Ellis gradually took control of the situation, sharing a key stand with Simon Beetham, then Jack Bransgrove.
Ellis struck a six and eight fours in a match winning 51 before being caught and bowled by Raff Hussey with St Cross in sight of victory.
Williams, nicknamed the Ocean Express at his Cape Town club Constantia, produced the best SPL figures of the season as South Wilts tumbled to 35-5 and eventually 109 all out.
Nipping the ball off the seam, Williams ripped the heart out of South Wilts’ top order with a devastating pre-lunch spell, which saw Arthur Godsal, Ralf Hussey, James Hayward and Ben Draper depart.
The visitors lost four wickets for three runs at one stage as South Wilts fell from 32-1 to 35-5 in the 20th over.
That was after the injured Matt Haworth had Tom Morton caught behind for a third ball duck.
Australian Peter Rowe (49) dropped anchor and formed a valuable partnership with Joe Cranch (21), but Williams returned after lunch, taking another three wickets.
Opener Rowe was eventually eighth man out at 96, caught and bowled low down by Harry Came.
Six South Wilts batsmen failed to trouble returning scorer Adrian James in the team's 109 all out.
St Cross didn’t find what appeared a relatively academic target straightforward, dropping to 34-4 themselves, Will Harries taking two of the wickets.
But Ed Ellis gradually took control of the situation, sharing a key stand with Simon Beetham, then Jack Bransgrove.
Ellis struck a six and eight fours in a match winning 51 before being caught and bowled by Raff Hussey with St Cross in sight of victory.
Ed Ellis, whose key 51 guided St Cross Symondians to victory [Roy Honeybone]
