Alex Hall key innings for Sway
Sway crept over the line with a nail biting one wicket win over close rivals Parley to underline their unbeaten place at the top of Southern Premier Division 3 - but the result was in the balance into the final over.
The backbone of Parley’s 213 all out was 69 by Bryanston cricket coach Owen Morris, who has returned to his roots after playing for Totton & Eling. He was well assisted by left-hand opener Sam Collins (25), Ollie Green (29), with 23 from teen Sam Rook.
As usual, Sway’s seamers picked up the wickets: Hugh Barnard 3-42, Jon Waller 3-29 and Dave Steadman 3-33. 16-year-old slow left arm spinner Olly Marshall was no doubt delighted with his first Southern League wicket, dismissing the dangerous Morris, brilliantly caught by Steadman patrolling the long off boundary.
The Sway reply began steadily: openers Tim Noble (26) and John Walter (19). It was left to Alex Hall (49) to increase the tempo, until caught by Kieran Laird off Chris Williams 1-56. Dan Bailey continued the increased run rate with a boundary filled 35, after which wickets fell regularly. Jack Nicholas 3-45, Harry Avoth 3-39 and Sam Rook 2-22 were the beneficiaries.
At 168-8, with Greg Jones injured in the warm up yet to appear, Parley looked to be in control. Richard Thomas added an invaluable 16 but when caught by Laird off Rook at 197-9, Jones finally came out to join Jon Waller 11*. Jones 15* made light of his back problem finally dispatching two boundaries in the last over to seal a thrilling Sway win.
Havant II are 31 points behind Sway, but well ahead of Parley after an easy six-wicket win over Trojans, who lost half their wickets for 35 runs, Henry Pelling-Smith shredding their top order with a new-ball spell of 4-12.
They sank to 68-8 before Lewis Maton (31) and Luke Dimmick gave their final 123 (Warren Turner 3-19) a modest air of respectability. Oli Jones (34*) and Richard Hindley (31) took Havant home.
The backbone of Parley’s 213 all out was 69 by Bryanston cricket coach Owen Morris, who has returned to his roots after playing for Totton & Eling. He was well assisted by left-hand opener Sam Collins (25), Ollie Green (29), with 23 from teen Sam Rook.
As usual, Sway’s seamers picked up the wickets: Hugh Barnard 3-42, Jon Waller 3-29 and Dave Steadman 3-33. 16-year-old slow left arm spinner Olly Marshall was no doubt delighted with his first Southern League wicket, dismissing the dangerous Morris, brilliantly caught by Steadman patrolling the long off boundary.
The Sway reply began steadily: openers Tim Noble (26) and John Walter (19). It was left to Alex Hall (49) to increase the tempo, until caught by Kieran Laird off Chris Williams 1-56. Dan Bailey continued the increased run rate with a boundary filled 35, after which wickets fell regularly. Jack Nicholas 3-45, Harry Avoth 3-39 and Sam Rook 2-22 were the beneficiaries.
At 168-8, with Greg Jones injured in the warm up yet to appear, Parley looked to be in control. Richard Thomas added an invaluable 16 but when caught by Laird off Rook at 197-9, Jones finally came out to join Jon Waller 11*. Jones 15* made light of his back problem finally dispatching two boundaries in the last over to seal a thrilling Sway win.
Havant II are 31 points behind Sway, but well ahead of Parley after an easy six-wicket win over Trojans, who lost half their wickets for 35 runs, Henry Pelling-Smith shredding their top order with a new-ball spell of 4-12.
They sank to 68-8 before Lewis Maton (31) and Luke Dimmick gave their final 123 (Warren Turner 3-19) a modest air of respectability. Oli Jones (34*) and Richard Hindley (31) took Havant home.
