Hampshire's Jimmy Adams ruthlessly square-cuts Bashley Rydal left-arm spinner Ross Grierson for four [James Newell]
St Cross Symondians’ have their eyes set on winning the ECB Southern Premier League title itself after clinching the Time Pennant flag with a crushing 195-run victory over depleted Bashley (Rydal).
They are hot on South Wilts’ tails at the top going into the final five-match leg of ‘white ball’ 50-over cricket which begin at Havant on Saturday.
Nine points currently separate the leading pair, whose head-to-head meeting at Bemerton on August 18 may well be a championship decider.
South Wilts, who began the last phase of all-day cricket with an 18-point lad, had their position weakened when they were unable to force a victory over Alton.
Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams, who hit a match winning century at Burridge the previous week, once again led the way, scoring 148 as St Cross racked up 328-3 declared before bowling Bashley out for 133.
The former Hampshire skipper, who cut his teeth in the game as a St Cross junior, hit 22 fours and three sixes, dominating a double-century opening partnership with Billy Mead (73), who fell to an outstanding one-handed catch up Patrick Lewis.
Bad break
As if leather chasing was not painful enough, Bashley lost teenage debutant seam bowler Sammy Laurent, who suffered a broken right hand after being struck by one of Adams’s drives fairly early in the morning session.
He returned from hospital with his hand in plaster having shattered a bone under his little finger.
“I didn’t have the time to even think about catching it, Jimmy hit it so hard,” said Laurent, a fourth year Nottingham Trent University Sport & Exercise student.
Adams was clearly unsettled by the injury.
“It was a sickening moment, pretty upsetting,” said Adams. “No one wants to see people getting hurt playing recreational sport, but sadly these things happen sometimes.
“Let’s hope Sammy’s fully repaired by the time he returns to university.”
Laurent’s absence stretched Bashley’s already threadbare bowling options, but fortunately the visitors only had to field for 50 overs before Tom Foyle declared.
Before that, Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland plundered a six-strewn 54, Ed Ellis made 25 not out and Harry Came 21. Tom Foyle’s merciful declaration didn’t come a minute too early !
Fielding only five recognised first team regulars, Bashley promptly slumped to 23-4, with Stephen Mitchell taking 3-29.
Adams strikes
Michael Porter (24) and Tom Jacques, with a battling 54, kept St Cross at bay, but having inched their way into the nineties, Bashley promptly lost three wickets in quick succession, two of them to Holland.
Ross Grierson (21) staged a late rally, but Adams had the final say, picking up the wicket of Patrick Lewis, bowling left-arm spin.
“It just did enough,” chuckled Adams, who has 30 First Class scalps to his name.
The victory meant that St Cross, with six wins from nine all-day games, finished 13 points ahead of South Wilts in the final Time pennant log.
It was the club’s first tangible reward since winning the 50-over pennant in 2012.
They are hot on South Wilts’ tails at the top going into the final five-match leg of ‘white ball’ 50-over cricket which begin at Havant on Saturday.
Nine points currently separate the leading pair, whose head-to-head meeting at Bemerton on August 18 may well be a championship decider.
South Wilts, who began the last phase of all-day cricket with an 18-point lad, had their position weakened when they were unable to force a victory over Alton.
Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams, who hit a match winning century at Burridge the previous week, once again led the way, scoring 148 as St Cross racked up 328-3 declared before bowling Bashley out for 133.
The former Hampshire skipper, who cut his teeth in the game as a St Cross junior, hit 22 fours and three sixes, dominating a double-century opening partnership with Billy Mead (73), who fell to an outstanding one-handed catch up Patrick Lewis.
Bad break
As if leather chasing was not painful enough, Bashley lost teenage debutant seam bowler Sammy Laurent, who suffered a broken right hand after being struck by one of Adams’s drives fairly early in the morning session.
He returned from hospital with his hand in plaster having shattered a bone under his little finger.
“I didn’t have the time to even think about catching it, Jimmy hit it so hard,” said Laurent, a fourth year Nottingham Trent University Sport & Exercise student.
Adams was clearly unsettled by the injury.
“It was a sickening moment, pretty upsetting,” said Adams. “No one wants to see people getting hurt playing recreational sport, but sadly these things happen sometimes.
“Let’s hope Sammy’s fully repaired by the time he returns to university.”
Laurent’s absence stretched Bashley’s already threadbare bowling options, but fortunately the visitors only had to field for 50 overs before Tom Foyle declared.
Before that, Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland plundered a six-strewn 54, Ed Ellis made 25 not out and Harry Came 21. Tom Foyle’s merciful declaration didn’t come a minute too early !
Fielding only five recognised first team regulars, Bashley promptly slumped to 23-4, with Stephen Mitchell taking 3-29.
Adams strikes
Michael Porter (24) and Tom Jacques, with a battling 54, kept St Cross at bay, but having inched their way into the nineties, Bashley promptly lost three wickets in quick succession, two of them to Holland.
Ross Grierson (21) staged a late rally, but Adams had the final say, picking up the wicket of Patrick Lewis, bowling left-arm spin.
“It just did enough,” chuckled Adams, who has 30 First Class scalps to his name.
The victory meant that St Cross, with six wins from nine all-day games, finished 13 points ahead of South Wilts in the final Time pennant log.
It was the club’s first tangible reward since winning the 50-over pennant in 2012.
Ian Holland launches Bashley's Josh Digby for a huge six deep into the St Cross Church graveyard [James Newell/Daily Echo]
