South Wilts racked up a Southern Electric Premier Division record score when they smashed the Hampshire Academy attack for a massive 396-5 on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground on the opening day of the season.
The teams meet again today – in a Time Pennant affair – at Bemerton, 11.30, as the Premier League goes into its ‘back nine’ phase of return fixtures.
South Wilts, unbeaten and 29 points clear at the top of the log, aren’t anticipating a repeat of the May 2 run feast.
Skipper Tom Morton says: “The Academy in recent years have been a lot stronger in all-day cricket.
“They have some very good young spinners and without bowling restrictions these can control the game.
“I would say the standard of the Premier League is stronger currently than it has been for eight years, and this, I believe, is largely due to an influx of quality spinners.
“Today won’t be anything unusual for us: the majority of our training sessions since all-day cricket started have been situational batting against spinners, so we’re preparing well for the challenge the Academy will present to us.”
England Under-19 captain Joe Weatherley isn’t short on spin bowling options, with Mason Crane, Felix Organ, Brad Taylor and himself all ready to whirl their flight and guile in front of the South Wilts President’s Day lunch guests.
Morton could help a smile when he heard President Trevor Hayward had organised another special lunch to coincide with the Academy visit.
“The last time Trevor organised a lunch, his guests were treated to a real roller coaster of a game against St Cross Symondians – I’m not sure it helped the digestion,
“After what happened last time, he should have sold twice as many tickets for tomorrow’s function.
“They lapped it up – it was terrific entertainment, with the game ebbing and flowing.”
Jack Mynott is back on Bemerton duty again tomorrow after his career-best 136 against Alton last week, while the Academy give a debut to Sherborne School medium-pace bowler Conrad Fish, but are without left-armer Tom Barber.
Mynott’s hundred set up an eight win in nine for South Wilts.
“If you asked me at the start of the season if I would take 8 wins and 1 draw at the half way stage, I would without doubt have taken that,” smiled Morton.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Mynot, Wade, Hayward, Duffield, Hibberd, Franklin, Foley, Evans, Warner.
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Alsop, Taylor, Goodwin, Organ, McCoy, Crane, Wood, Fish, Murray.
The teams meet again today – in a Time Pennant affair – at Bemerton, 11.30, as the Premier League goes into its ‘back nine’ phase of return fixtures.
South Wilts, unbeaten and 29 points clear at the top of the log, aren’t anticipating a repeat of the May 2 run feast.
Skipper Tom Morton says: “The Academy in recent years have been a lot stronger in all-day cricket.
“They have some very good young spinners and without bowling restrictions these can control the game.
“I would say the standard of the Premier League is stronger currently than it has been for eight years, and this, I believe, is largely due to an influx of quality spinners.
“Today won’t be anything unusual for us: the majority of our training sessions since all-day cricket started have been situational batting against spinners, so we’re preparing well for the challenge the Academy will present to us.”
England Under-19 captain Joe Weatherley isn’t short on spin bowling options, with Mason Crane, Felix Organ, Brad Taylor and himself all ready to whirl their flight and guile in front of the South Wilts President’s Day lunch guests.
Morton could help a smile when he heard President Trevor Hayward had organised another special lunch to coincide with the Academy visit.
“The last time Trevor organised a lunch, his guests were treated to a real roller coaster of a game against St Cross Symondians – I’m not sure it helped the digestion,
“After what happened last time, he should have sold twice as many tickets for tomorrow’s function.
“They lapped it up – it was terrific entertainment, with the game ebbing and flowing.”
Jack Mynott is back on Bemerton duty again tomorrow after his career-best 136 against Alton last week, while the Academy give a debut to Sherborne School medium-pace bowler Conrad Fish, but are without left-armer Tom Barber.
Mynott’s hundred set up an eight win in nine for South Wilts.
“If you asked me at the start of the season if I would take 8 wins and 1 draw at the half way stage, I would without doubt have taken that,” smiled Morton.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Mynot, Wade, Hayward, Duffield, Hibberd, Franklin, Foley, Evans, Warner.
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Alsop, Taylor, Goodwin, Organ, McCoy, Crane, Wood, Fish, Murray.