 Billy Mead bares all on his way to 56 which set up St Cross Symondians' five-wicket win at South Wilts. Right, Felix Organ on his way to an unbeaten fifty. Roy Honeybone photos. |  |
St Cross Symondians clinched the runners-up spot in the ECB Southern Premier League by beating South Wilts by five wickets at Bemerton.
Half centuries by Hampshire’s Felix Organ and Billy Mead enabled St Cross to ease home with 14 balls to spare.
Seven points ahead of the Salisbury club, St Cross will win the 50-over ‘white ball’ pennant if they beat Burridge at the Green Jackets Ground on Saturday
Long time leaders Bashley (Rydal), who host South Wilts in the final round of fixtures, clinched the overall championship with a five-wicket victory at Bournemouth.
It was the dismissal of Morton (for a typically forceful 33) – the first of five victims (he now has 30 for the season) for gloveman Ed Ellis – that triggered a top order South Wilts wobble against St Cross, who seized the initiative after their hosts had progressed to 78-1.
James Hayward and Ben Draper fell to the Ellis/Jack Bransgrove (3-38) combination as South Wilts lurched to 105-4.
Arthur Godsal (56) glued the innings together before he too fell (to Harry Came) leaving SW 128-5.
Consolidating
The developing Raff Hussey (37) and Australian Peter Rowe (30) shared a half-century stand as South Wilts nudged just beyond the 200-run mark, before Harry Foyle (4-37) returned to bowl the final overs and have ‘tail-waggers’ Tom Berzins and Luke Evans caught in the deep in the 50th as the Bemerton side closed at an under-par 233 all out.
St Cross lost Tom Foyle at 22, but Billy Mead (56) and Came (23) consolidated by adding 80 to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
Skippering the side in his second season, Mead has been in good form recently for the MCC YCs – and St Cross themselves.
Ironically, the pair were both trapped leg before wicket in quick succession to give South Wilts a chink of renewed hope.
It proved a false dawn as former Clevedon man Max Curtis (41) and Felix Organ, with an unbeaten 50, effectively secured the St Cross victory with their subsequent 83-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Ed Ellis added 23 as St Cross tidied their victory with time to spare.
Half centuries by Hampshire’s Felix Organ and Billy Mead enabled St Cross to ease home with 14 balls to spare.
Seven points ahead of the Salisbury club, St Cross will win the 50-over ‘white ball’ pennant if they beat Burridge at the Green Jackets Ground on Saturday
Long time leaders Bashley (Rydal), who host South Wilts in the final round of fixtures, clinched the overall championship with a five-wicket victory at Bournemouth.
It was the dismissal of Morton (for a typically forceful 33) – the first of five victims (he now has 30 for the season) for gloveman Ed Ellis – that triggered a top order South Wilts wobble against St Cross, who seized the initiative after their hosts had progressed to 78-1.
James Hayward and Ben Draper fell to the Ellis/Jack Bransgrove (3-38) combination as South Wilts lurched to 105-4.
Arthur Godsal (56) glued the innings together before he too fell (to Harry Came) leaving SW 128-5.
Consolidating
The developing Raff Hussey (37) and Australian Peter Rowe (30) shared a half-century stand as South Wilts nudged just beyond the 200-run mark, before Harry Foyle (4-37) returned to bowl the final overs and have ‘tail-waggers’ Tom Berzins and Luke Evans caught in the deep in the 50th as the Bemerton side closed at an under-par 233 all out.
St Cross lost Tom Foyle at 22, but Billy Mead (56) and Came (23) consolidated by adding 80 to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
Skippering the side in his second season, Mead has been in good form recently for the MCC YCs – and St Cross themselves.
Ironically, the pair were both trapped leg before wicket in quick succession to give South Wilts a chink of renewed hope.
It proved a false dawn as former Clevedon man Max Curtis (41) and Felix Organ, with an unbeaten 50, effectively secured the St Cross victory with their subsequent 83-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Ed Ellis added 23 as St Cross tidied their victory with time to spare.
 Harry Foyle 4-37 for St Cross Symondians [Roy Honeybone] |  A half-century by Arthur Godsal glued the South Wilts innings together. |
