FROM Barbados to Bashley – Tino Best, welcome to the New Forest.
The tiny Hampshire village must have seemed a long way from the exotic Caribbean island for one of the fastest bowlers ever to have played the game.
Best, who made 25 Test appearances for the West Indies, bowled one over, claimed one wicket and was one not out from one ball as Hampshire beat Dorset in a T20 friendly at Bashley on Thursday evening.
Despite his limited involvement, Best was the star attraction.
In common with most of his Hampshire team-mates, Best cowered for warmth, his hands covered by his yellow and blue shirt sleeves as he stood on the boundary, often chatting to young supporters.
Sadly, unlike the title of his new autobiography 'Mind the Windows: My Story' there were few fireworks as Hampshire eased to a 57-run victory.
Dorset trio Luke Webb, Tom Jacques and Brad Currie would have taken mixed memories from their meeting with Best as the contest was played out in a howling wind and against a backdrop of threatening black clouds which saw some heavy rain fall on the players.
Bashley (Rydal) bound Currie, a 17-year-old left-armer who is in his first year at Millfield School having attended Poole Grammar, bowled the only ball Best would face, the legendary quickie scampering a single towards the end of Hampshire innings of 174 for eight.
Jacques, who came through the ranks at Parley and now plays his club cricket at Bashley, can lay claim to having been a victim of Best after being caught by Liam Dawson, a member of England’s World T20 squad.
But the pièce de résistance must go to former Bashley batsman Webb, who felt the full force of a short-pitched delivery from Best to his right wrist and bravely batted on to top score for Dorset with 30 in their reply of 117.
It had started promisingly for an expectant crowd when Jimmy Adams clipped a sumptuous six off his legs in the first over before clubbing a loose ball from Bournemouth spinner Jem Warner over Bashley Road and out of sight.
But Bashley’s Josh Digby (2-33) and Bournemouth’s Robbie Pack (2-29) ensured Hampshire would not have it all their own way – with only five further sixes scored by the visitors.
Webb’s lusty blow to put a delivery from England under-19 international Mason Crane into an adjoining field owned by Bashley president Robert Fagan was one of the highlights of the Dorset innings together with Ryan Scott’s classy six off Ryan Stevenson.
Dorset coach Paul Prichard said: “I thought it was a very good exercise not only for Dorset and Hampshire but for Bashley as well. The pitch they produced was great and the ground looks an absolute treat.
“Hampshire came with the squad they will probably go close to starting with in the T20 competitions and it was an invaluable experience for our youngsters to bowl at these guys, bat against them, see how hard they hit it and where they hit it. Everything they need to learn.
“I think Hampshire got a lot out of the game and we certainly did with our young players especially giving them an experience they would never have had otherwise.”
Neil Perrett, Bournemouth Echo.
The tiny Hampshire village must have seemed a long way from the exotic Caribbean island for one of the fastest bowlers ever to have played the game.
Best, who made 25 Test appearances for the West Indies, bowled one over, claimed one wicket and was one not out from one ball as Hampshire beat Dorset in a T20 friendly at Bashley on Thursday evening.
Despite his limited involvement, Best was the star attraction.
In common with most of his Hampshire team-mates, Best cowered for warmth, his hands covered by his yellow and blue shirt sleeves as he stood on the boundary, often chatting to young supporters.
Sadly, unlike the title of his new autobiography 'Mind the Windows: My Story' there were few fireworks as Hampshire eased to a 57-run victory.
Dorset trio Luke Webb, Tom Jacques and Brad Currie would have taken mixed memories from their meeting with Best as the contest was played out in a howling wind and against a backdrop of threatening black clouds which saw some heavy rain fall on the players.
Bashley (Rydal) bound Currie, a 17-year-old left-armer who is in his first year at Millfield School having attended Poole Grammar, bowled the only ball Best would face, the legendary quickie scampering a single towards the end of Hampshire innings of 174 for eight.
Jacques, who came through the ranks at Parley and now plays his club cricket at Bashley, can lay claim to having been a victim of Best after being caught by Liam Dawson, a member of England’s World T20 squad.
But the pièce de résistance must go to former Bashley batsman Webb, who felt the full force of a short-pitched delivery from Best to his right wrist and bravely batted on to top score for Dorset with 30 in their reply of 117.
It had started promisingly for an expectant crowd when Jimmy Adams clipped a sumptuous six off his legs in the first over before clubbing a loose ball from Bournemouth spinner Jem Warner over Bashley Road and out of sight.
But Bashley’s Josh Digby (2-33) and Bournemouth’s Robbie Pack (2-29) ensured Hampshire would not have it all their own way – with only five further sixes scored by the visitors.
Webb’s lusty blow to put a delivery from England under-19 international Mason Crane into an adjoining field owned by Bashley president Robert Fagan was one of the highlights of the Dorset innings together with Ryan Scott’s classy six off Ryan Stevenson.
Dorset coach Paul Prichard said: “I thought it was a very good exercise not only for Dorset and Hampshire but for Bashley as well. The pitch they produced was great and the ground looks an absolute treat.
“Hampshire came with the squad they will probably go close to starting with in the T20 competitions and it was an invaluable experience for our youngsters to bowl at these guys, bat against them, see how hard they hit it and where they hit it. Everything they need to learn.
“I think Hampshire got a lot out of the game and we certainly did with our young players especially giving them an experience they would never have had otherwise.”
Neil Perrett, Bournemouth Echo.
