With four games to go and 797 runs already under his belt, Tom Morton has the magical Southern Electric Premier Division 1,000 target in his sight.
But there’s no way the captain of runaway leaders South Wilts is prepared to put individual milestones in front of winning a unique fourth successive title.
“I’m not going to play down the importance of individual milestones, these are very important, but there is no way I would sacrifice a league title for individual gains,” he said.
“I’ve been at the club for so long now, and played with the same bunch of blokes throughout, a record breaking fourth league title is without doubt our main aim for the season and would mean more to me.”
Morton’s quite superb 164 against Havant last week – his highest Premier Division score – took Morton to within 203 runs of being only the second SPL batsman to reach the 1,000-run mark.
New Zealander Neal Parlane did it playing for BAT Sports in 2003, when he made 1,074 runs for the Totton club.
“The last month has put me in a good position to be able to reach that mark. It wasn’t really an option before this point.
“Fortunately, we have had some nice weather this summer and it has allowed us to continually play, and as a batsman this is great for your rhythm.
“As for the 1,000, I would need to bat well, but it’s certainly within reach.”
Morton also tops the individual wicket-keeping charts and, with 34 victims, is one dismissal behind the record set by Dave Banks, again for BAT Sports, in 2001.
Ironically, Banks could see his record haul overtaken at Bemerton tomorrow, when South Wilts resume their title bid a thumping 35 points clear of Havant, who host the Hampshire Academy.
Sarisbury, meanwhile, start proceedings propping up the Premier Division table and, after playing South Wilts, take on Havant and then third placed Bashley (Rydal).
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Mynott, Hayward, Duffield, Hibberd, Riddle, Franklin, Foley, Evans, Warner .
Sarisbury Athletic: Journeaux, Covey, Banks, Lovett, Burl, Floyd, Miller, Goldstraw, Clouting, Ingram, Jewell.
Second placed Havant, set to become bridesmaids once again, will see a familiar face in the Hampshire Academy line up at Havant Park.
Harry Hovey, who has shone for Hampshire Under-17s in the past fortnight, gets his opportunity to stake a claim for a place on the Ageas Bowl Academy.
Dual registered, Hovey normally plays for Havant, who expect to have Chris Stone back after missing the South Wilts experience.
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Came, Goodwin, Mead, McCoy, Hovey, Clutterbuck, Murray, Barber, Fish.
South Australia talent Tom Andrews plays his final matches for Bashley (Rydal) this weekend ahead of his recall to Adelaide for the start of Redbacks’ Sheffield Shield campaign.
Andrews has had a major impact at Bashley, topping the Premier Division bowling charts with 41 wickets, alongside scoring over 350 runs, including a maiden hundred against the Hampshire Academy.
The left-hand all-rounder, who represented Australia in the 2014 Under-19 CWC in the Emirates, makes his league farewell against St Cross Symondians at the Green Jackets Ground and at Havant in the Southern Electric t20 Cup semi-finals at Havant Park on Sunday, 3pm.
'Tom's been a wonderful addition to the club. He's naturally quite a relaxed, down to earth character, but he's a fierce competitor on the pitch and he's been a consistent performer for us, “ said Richard Morris who began the season as Bashley captain.
'Tom has integrated into the club very well and is an impressive young man. I'm sure he'll have a long and successful career in the game and I'm looking forward to watching and supporting from afar!'
'I know I speak for everybody at Bashley when I say Tom is welcome back at BCG anytime.'
But there’s no way the captain of runaway leaders South Wilts is prepared to put individual milestones in front of winning a unique fourth successive title.
“I’m not going to play down the importance of individual milestones, these are very important, but there is no way I would sacrifice a league title for individual gains,” he said.
“I’ve been at the club for so long now, and played with the same bunch of blokes throughout, a record breaking fourth league title is without doubt our main aim for the season and would mean more to me.”
Morton’s quite superb 164 against Havant last week – his highest Premier Division score – took Morton to within 203 runs of being only the second SPL batsman to reach the 1,000-run mark.
New Zealander Neal Parlane did it playing for BAT Sports in 2003, when he made 1,074 runs for the Totton club.
“The last month has put me in a good position to be able to reach that mark. It wasn’t really an option before this point.
“Fortunately, we have had some nice weather this summer and it has allowed us to continually play, and as a batsman this is great for your rhythm.
“As for the 1,000, I would need to bat well, but it’s certainly within reach.”
Morton also tops the individual wicket-keeping charts and, with 34 victims, is one dismissal behind the record set by Dave Banks, again for BAT Sports, in 2001.
Ironically, Banks could see his record haul overtaken at Bemerton tomorrow, when South Wilts resume their title bid a thumping 35 points clear of Havant, who host the Hampshire Academy.
Sarisbury, meanwhile, start proceedings propping up the Premier Division table and, after playing South Wilts, take on Havant and then third placed Bashley (Rydal).
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Mynott, Hayward, Duffield, Hibberd, Riddle, Franklin, Foley, Evans, Warner .
Sarisbury Athletic: Journeaux, Covey, Banks, Lovett, Burl, Floyd, Miller, Goldstraw, Clouting, Ingram, Jewell.
Second placed Havant, set to become bridesmaids once again, will see a familiar face in the Hampshire Academy line up at Havant Park.
Harry Hovey, who has shone for Hampshire Under-17s in the past fortnight, gets his opportunity to stake a claim for a place on the Ageas Bowl Academy.
Dual registered, Hovey normally plays for Havant, who expect to have Chris Stone back after missing the South Wilts experience.
Academy: Weatherley, Duggan, Came, Goodwin, Mead, McCoy, Hovey, Clutterbuck, Murray, Barber, Fish.
South Australia talent Tom Andrews plays his final matches for Bashley (Rydal) this weekend ahead of his recall to Adelaide for the start of Redbacks’ Sheffield Shield campaign.
Andrews has had a major impact at Bashley, topping the Premier Division bowling charts with 41 wickets, alongside scoring over 350 runs, including a maiden hundred against the Hampshire Academy.
The left-hand all-rounder, who represented Australia in the 2014 Under-19 CWC in the Emirates, makes his league farewell against St Cross Symondians at the Green Jackets Ground and at Havant in the Southern Electric t20 Cup semi-finals at Havant Park on Sunday, 3pm.
'Tom's been a wonderful addition to the club. He's naturally quite a relaxed, down to earth character, but he's a fierce competitor on the pitch and he's been a consistent performer for us, “ said Richard Morris who began the season as Bashley captain.
'Tom has integrated into the club very well and is an impressive young man. I'm sure he'll have a long and successful career in the game and I'm looking forward to watching and supporting from afar!'
'I know I speak for everybody at Bashley when I say Tom is welcome back at BCG anytime.'