Matthew Stokes, pictured, celebrated his first century on mainland soil when he carried his bat for an undefeated 120, which culminated in St Cross Symondians pulling off a gripping penultimate ball victory over relegation troubled Sarisbury Athletic at Allotment Road.
The inbound Southampton Solent University student, an exciting cog in the Guernsey island cricket development wheel turned by former Hampshire cricketer Nic Pothas, hit 12 boundaries in a patient 174-ball stay at the crease.
He enjoyed a prolific third-wicket stand of 170 with Charlie Ayres (79) and later Jack Bransgrove, who smashed a whirlwind 60 off 26 balls, including three big sixes and five fours.
The trio powered St Cross Symondians to 309-4 before bottom-of-the-log Sarisbury made a brave attempt to chase the total down and secure a ‘winning draw.’
Having opened the bowling and taken 3-101, Ryan Covey underpinned the Sarisbury reply with 97 (11 fours) and, with Ricky Rawlins (34) and Ryan Burl (46), took the response to an encouraging 181-2.
The best Sarisbury were likely to get was that ‘wining draw’ but as has happened so often this season, their batting collapsed, the last five wickets falling for 26 runs.
Sarisbury looked set to secure a draw, but their tail collapsed against the leg-spin of Charlie Ayres (3-38) and they were dismissed for 245 off the penultimate ball.
The St Cross management may soon look to beef up the club’s second team, who are tottering third from bottom of Division 3, just five points clear of relegation.
Their plight deepened with a 20-run defeat by promotion chasing South Wilts II.
The inbound Southampton Solent University student, an exciting cog in the Guernsey island cricket development wheel turned by former Hampshire cricketer Nic Pothas, hit 12 boundaries in a patient 174-ball stay at the crease.
He enjoyed a prolific third-wicket stand of 170 with Charlie Ayres (79) and later Jack Bransgrove, who smashed a whirlwind 60 off 26 balls, including three big sixes and five fours.
The trio powered St Cross Symondians to 309-4 before bottom-of-the-log Sarisbury made a brave attempt to chase the total down and secure a ‘winning draw.’
Having opened the bowling and taken 3-101, Ryan Covey underpinned the Sarisbury reply with 97 (11 fours) and, with Ricky Rawlins (34) and Ryan Burl (46), took the response to an encouraging 181-2.
The best Sarisbury were likely to get was that ‘wining draw’ but as has happened so often this season, their batting collapsed, the last five wickets falling for 26 runs.
Sarisbury looked set to secure a draw, but their tail collapsed against the leg-spin of Charlie Ayres (3-38) and they were dismissed for 245 off the penultimate ball.
The St Cross management may soon look to beef up the club’s second team, who are tottering third from bottom of Division 3, just five points clear of relegation.
Their plight deepened with a 20-run defeat by promotion chasing South Wilts II.
