Lee Beck turned back the clock to produce career-best figures of 7-71, six of them caught behind by Tom Arnold, as New Milton celebrated a first ECB Southern Premier Division victory by three wickets over the Hampshire Academy on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.
The 35-year old, who is in the 20th season with the newly promoted Green & Golds, bowled a marathon 22-over stint before and after lunch, admitting afterwards he was “stiff but hugely satisfied.”
Beck’s bowling figures took the gloss off a courageous second consecutive century by 17-year old Jake Goodwin, who glued the Academy’s modest 173 together.
Nick Park (54) and Nicky Elliott, with an unbeaten 41, later engineered a predictably nervous New Milton victory.
Last season’s Premier One champions had lost all five of their top flight matches prior to their Ageas Bowl visit.
Stand-in skipper Ryan Beck reflected: “We could have won some of our earlier games, but to get over the line and clinch our first win was massive.
“It’s really good for the lads.”
Beck heaped praise on elder brother Lee’s bowling performance.
“He’s taken 275-or so Premier League wickets, but doesn’t bowl for this team very often, so to do what he did was superb.
“He relies on leg-cutters and swing and I don’t think Tom Arnold barely moved to take any of the six nicks which got Lee all bar one of his wickets.”
The raw and generally inexperienced Academy batsmen were left technically exposed by Beck’s bowling – all except Jake Goodwin, who is enjoying a purple batting patch.
The Swindon-raised teen hit 129 at Lymington last week and, having come to the crease at 13-2, had to restrain his normally aggressive style to ensure the Academy posted a reasonable total.
Goodwin, pictured, hit four sixes and nine fours, the maximums in the latter stages of his 113.
The Academy seamers generally bowled too short with the new ball and were punished – Nick Park (54) and Tom Arnold (21) cashing in with a 69-run start.
Weatherley (4-38) got two wickets in successive balls and when Park became the former England Under-19 skipper’s fourth victim at 92-4, New Milton wobbled.
On cue, Nicky Elliott produced the cool head the Green & Golds needed and with Joe Hall (13) added an important 48.
Milton went on to lose seven wickets – two of them to leg spinner Mason Crane - but the Academy didn’t have the runs to play with and Elliott’s patience – his unbeaten 44 came off 88 deliveries – aided by skipper Beck at the end, steered New Milton to a landmark victory.
“Not for the first time Nick’s old head on young shoulders got us in. Now we must build on this win and pull ourselves out of trouble,” Beck concluded.
The 35-year old, who is in the 20th season with the newly promoted Green & Golds, bowled a marathon 22-over stint before and after lunch, admitting afterwards he was “stiff but hugely satisfied.”
Beck’s bowling figures took the gloss off a courageous second consecutive century by 17-year old Jake Goodwin, who glued the Academy’s modest 173 together.
Nick Park (54) and Nicky Elliott, with an unbeaten 41, later engineered a predictably nervous New Milton victory.
Last season’s Premier One champions had lost all five of their top flight matches prior to their Ageas Bowl visit.
Stand-in skipper Ryan Beck reflected: “We could have won some of our earlier games, but to get over the line and clinch our first win was massive.
“It’s really good for the lads.”
Beck heaped praise on elder brother Lee’s bowling performance.
“He’s taken 275-or so Premier League wickets, but doesn’t bowl for this team very often, so to do what he did was superb.
“He relies on leg-cutters and swing and I don’t think Tom Arnold barely moved to take any of the six nicks which got Lee all bar one of his wickets.”
The raw and generally inexperienced Academy batsmen were left technically exposed by Beck’s bowling – all except Jake Goodwin, who is enjoying a purple batting patch.
The Swindon-raised teen hit 129 at Lymington last week and, having come to the crease at 13-2, had to restrain his normally aggressive style to ensure the Academy posted a reasonable total.
Goodwin, pictured, hit four sixes and nine fours, the maximums in the latter stages of his 113.
The Academy seamers generally bowled too short with the new ball and were punished – Nick Park (54) and Tom Arnold (21) cashing in with a 69-run start.
Weatherley (4-38) got two wickets in successive balls and when Park became the former England Under-19 skipper’s fourth victim at 92-4, New Milton wobbled.
On cue, Nicky Elliott produced the cool head the Green & Golds needed and with Joe Hall (13) added an important 48.
Milton went on to lose seven wickets – two of them to leg spinner Mason Crane - but the Academy didn’t have the runs to play with and Elliott’s patience – his unbeaten 44 came off 88 deliveries – aided by skipper Beck at the end, steered New Milton to a landmark victory.
“Not for the first time Nick’s old head on young shoulders got us in. Now we must build on this win and pull ourselves out of trouble,” Beck concluded.