Dave Banks 110 for Sparsholt [Bob Selley]
Groundsman David Banks has received lavish praise for the quality of pitches he has produced at Sparsholt this season – but the strip he prepared for Basingstoke & North Hants’ visit to Locks Lane was almost too good for his own liking !
Banks sampled it for himself and scored 110 as Division 2 champions Sparsholt piled up 314-6.
But, in an amazing affair which saw an aggregate 621 runs scored, Basingstoke almost chased it down, finishing only five runs short after a Matt Deadman century.
“It as the best track I’ve officiated on all summer,” praised standing umpire Simon Williams, who returned exhausted to his Chilworth home after signalling 14 sixes and 67 fours during the day.
Banks hit four maximums and 14 fours after arriving at the crease with Sparsholt already going nicely at 102-3, Mike Haworth (48) and Tim Vokes (42) going well.
Banks and Stuart Taylor (46) then plundered a 111-run fifth-wicket stand which saw Sparsholt to 314-6.
Talented teenage left-hander Matt Deadman (pictured) spearheaded Basingstoke’s run chase, adding 114 with Dan Birch (46).
When Deadman departed at 119-5, having hit two sixes and 13 fours, Basingstoke might reasonably have faded away.
But spurred on by Greg Donaldson’s 52 (pictured), they continued to give chase and Sparsholt owed it to spin dup Liam Doran (3-35) and Jeremy Frith (3-59) to ensure the visitors finished five short with a creditable 307-9.
Near neighbours St Cross Symondians II are still in the running for the runners-up spot after a five-wicket win at second placed Rowledge.
Paul Hawkins (67 not out) led the way as St Cross overhauled a modest Rowledge total of 137-9 (Chris Yates 39), Matt Haworth and Matt Perry-Lewis sharing six of the home scalps.
Banks sampled it for himself and scored 110 as Division 2 champions Sparsholt piled up 314-6.
But, in an amazing affair which saw an aggregate 621 runs scored, Basingstoke almost chased it down, finishing only five runs short after a Matt Deadman century.
“It as the best track I’ve officiated on all summer,” praised standing umpire Simon Williams, who returned exhausted to his Chilworth home after signalling 14 sixes and 67 fours during the day.
Banks hit four maximums and 14 fours after arriving at the crease with Sparsholt already going nicely at 102-3, Mike Haworth (48) and Tim Vokes (42) going well.
Banks and Stuart Taylor (46) then plundered a 111-run fifth-wicket stand which saw Sparsholt to 314-6.
Talented teenage left-hander Matt Deadman (pictured) spearheaded Basingstoke’s run chase, adding 114 with Dan Birch (46).
When Deadman departed at 119-5, having hit two sixes and 13 fours, Basingstoke might reasonably have faded away.
But spurred on by Greg Donaldson’s 52 (pictured), they continued to give chase and Sparsholt owed it to spin dup Liam Doran (3-35) and Jeremy Frith (3-59) to ensure the visitors finished five short with a creditable 307-9.
Near neighbours St Cross Symondians II are still in the running for the runners-up spot after a five-wicket win at second placed Rowledge.
Paul Hawkins (67 not out) led the way as St Cross overhauled a modest Rowledge total of 137-9 (Chris Yates 39), Matt Haworth and Matt Perry-Lewis sharing six of the home scalps.
 Matt Deadman 109 for Basingstoke [Neil Smith] |  Greg Donaldson quick fire 52 in Basingstoke's run chase [Bob Selley] |
