SWAIN TOASTS ENGLAND CALL WITH 60s CENTURY

Mike Swain, pictured, celebrated his upcoming England Over-70s selection – the country’s Golden Oldies have a three-match ‘Ashes’ Series against Australia next month – with a century for Hampshire’s 60-plus side.
His 101, which contained 15 boundaries, enabled Hampshire to post a commanding 252-6 off a rain interrupted 45-overs against Wiltshire at Trowbridge and record a second 43-run win in three Sixties County Championship games.
Geoff Beale (26), Jon Floyd (25), Paul Kerley (26), Chris Wood (22) and Andy Yorke (16) all chipped in with useful support knocks as Hampshire, anxious to score at a tidy rate under threatening leaden skies, put Wiltshire under increasing pressure.
With the rain threatening to return, Hampshire’s first priority was to ensure that 30 overs were bowled and that Wiltshire remained behind the required run rate.
The objective was achieved largely due to Steve Mitchell’s miserly spell of 9 overs for 23, but then emphatically assured by Chris Wood’s off spinning master class as he took the first four Wiltshire batsmen in his 4-31 nine-over spell.
Resistance was offered by Tim Mynott(48), aided by some scruffy fielding, but the result was never in doubt and Wiltshire tailed of at 209-5.
* Hampshire face Somerset in the ECB 50-plus County Championship at Privett Park, Gosport, on Wednesday, 1.00pm.