St Cross Symondians emerged from their opening pre-season friendly battered and bruised after being on the receiving end of a 319-run towsing from South Wilts, who struck a significant physiological blow ahead of the upcoming ECB Southern Premier League curtain raiser at Bemerton.
The clubs, who finished first and second in the SPL in 2021, meet again at Wilton Road on Saturday week in the first white ball 50-over match of the new season.
There’s little doubt South Wilts will go into the match with a distinct spring in their step, writes Mike Vimpany.
Neither side was quite at full strength for this 50-over warm-up match, but Charlie Gwynn apart, the St Cross bowling attack on May 7 may not be too far short of the one Ben Draper and Co sent to the cleaners.
St Cross had already come under fire from Arthur Godsal (75) and Peter Rowe (46) in a 115-run stand before Draper (pictured above) arrived at the crease to cream an unbeaten 83 off 54 balls.
The South Wilts skipper hit 14 boundaries; in all, South Wilts breached the rope 36 times, with five maximums, two by Raff Hussey in a late 29-run flurry.
With Ed Ellis and Brad Taylor absent, St Cross slipped to 62-4 before their reply took any meaningful shape – Simon Beetham (79) joining Harry Foyle (45) to give their eventual 196 all out an air of respectability.
Tom Lewis and Tom Grant shared six wickets, while 16-year old spinner Kit Blomfield continues to impress, returning 1-27 off ten overs.
The clubs, who finished first and second in the SPL in 2021, meet again at Wilton Road on Saturday week in the first white ball 50-over match of the new season.
There’s little doubt South Wilts will go into the match with a distinct spring in their step, writes Mike Vimpany.
Neither side was quite at full strength for this 50-over warm-up match, but Charlie Gwynn apart, the St Cross bowling attack on May 7 may not be too far short of the one Ben Draper and Co sent to the cleaners.
St Cross had already come under fire from Arthur Godsal (75) and Peter Rowe (46) in a 115-run stand before Draper (pictured above) arrived at the crease to cream an unbeaten 83 off 54 balls.
The South Wilts skipper hit 14 boundaries; in all, South Wilts breached the rope 36 times, with five maximums, two by Raff Hussey in a late 29-run flurry.
With Ed Ellis and Brad Taylor absent, St Cross slipped to 62-4 before their reply took any meaningful shape – Simon Beetham (79) joining Harry Foyle (45) to give their eventual 196 all out an air of respectability.
Tom Lewis and Tom Grant shared six wickets, while 16-year old spinner Kit Blomfield continues to impress, returning 1-27 off ten overs.
Simon Beetham [photos by Roy Honeybone]
