Hampshire Seniors left-hander Mike Swain collected the man-of-the-match award after he hit an unbeaten 82 to help England Seventies to an eight-wicket win over Australia (186-9) in the opening Veterans cricket ‘Ashes’ Test at Diss.
Swain hit nine fours and shared a 138-run first wicket stand for England, whose ranks also included Chichester Priory Park legend Andy Barnes.
But Swain was unable to halt a sensational collapse which saw Hampshire Seniors lose seven wickets for 12 runs and suffer an unexpected 13-run defeat by Somerset in the Seevent Sixties County Championship at Hursley Park.
Chasing Somerset’s 199 (John Paine 3-50), Hampshire were 174-3, only to be 186 all out with five balls left. Iain Britton (37), Jon Floyd (35), Terry Morton (30) and Swain (28) all made runs at the top of the order for Hampshire, who spent three hours fielding in the scorching heat.
The result means Hampshire will have to beat Wales in Sudbrook to finish runners-up in the West group which Gloucestershire have already won.
Swain hit nine fours and shared a 138-run first wicket stand for England, whose ranks also included Chichester Priory Park legend Andy Barnes.
But Swain was unable to halt a sensational collapse which saw Hampshire Seniors lose seven wickets for 12 runs and suffer an unexpected 13-run defeat by Somerset in the Seevent Sixties County Championship at Hursley Park.
Chasing Somerset’s 199 (John Paine 3-50), Hampshire were 174-3, only to be 186 all out with five balls left. Iain Britton (37), Jon Floyd (35), Terry Morton (30) and Swain (28) all made runs at the top of the order for Hampshire, who spent three hours fielding in the scorching heat.
The result means Hampshire will have to beat Wales in Sudbrook to finish runners-up in the West group which Gloucestershire have already won.
