NEW Milton skipper James Park has allayed worries over New Milton’s batting credentials after the Green & Golds were unable to chase down a modest target set by St Cross Symondians at Fernhill.
Newly promoted Milton were optimistic about starting life in the top flight of ECB Southern League cricket with a win after bowling their Winchester visitors out for 160.
But they were dismissed for 136 themselves and lost by 24 runs.
“You can never be confident in any game, especially low scoring ones,” Park pointed out.
“There are absolutely no concerns about our batting and let's hope the sun continues to shine and we can put some runs on the board.”
New Milton certainly bowled well, reducing St Cross to 69-4, with Black Caps ODI all-rounder George Worker (18) superbly caught at slip off injured left-armer Nick Gargaro, whose miserly ten-over spell cost 13 runs.
Newcomer Louis Kimber (20) and Charlie Ayres (18) also made starts, but it was Greg Hollins (28) and Jack Bransgrove (28), ironically the day’s top individual scorers, who steadied the ship.
Young Nicky Elliott, who bagged Kimber and the dangerous Bransgrove, who smacked his 28 off 17 balls, emerged with credit, taking 3-24 before Dan Loader (4-43) tidied up the tail.
But New Milton’s response never gained the required momentum.
St Cross bowled indifferently – frequently too short and with too much width – and Milton openers Tom Arnold and Dave Wakefield put on 30 between them.
But the left-arm spin spell of Worker (3-12), who bowled three maidens, unsettled New Milton, who lurched to 83 for six.
Lee Beck and Elliott (21 not out) defiantly put on 43 for the seventh wicket but first-ball ducks for Loader and George Watts ended any resistance as the home side ended on 136 all out.
“A lot of it was down to poor shot selection. No one wanted to dig in and get 40not out to win the game, which was disappointing,” Park reflected.
Newly promoted Milton were optimistic about starting life in the top flight of ECB Southern League cricket with a win after bowling their Winchester visitors out for 160.
But they were dismissed for 136 themselves and lost by 24 runs.
“You can never be confident in any game, especially low scoring ones,” Park pointed out.
“There are absolutely no concerns about our batting and let's hope the sun continues to shine and we can put some runs on the board.”
New Milton certainly bowled well, reducing St Cross to 69-4, with Black Caps ODI all-rounder George Worker (18) superbly caught at slip off injured left-armer Nick Gargaro, whose miserly ten-over spell cost 13 runs.
Newcomer Louis Kimber (20) and Charlie Ayres (18) also made starts, but it was Greg Hollins (28) and Jack Bransgrove (28), ironically the day’s top individual scorers, who steadied the ship.
Young Nicky Elliott, who bagged Kimber and the dangerous Bransgrove, who smacked his 28 off 17 balls, emerged with credit, taking 3-24 before Dan Loader (4-43) tidied up the tail.
But New Milton’s response never gained the required momentum.
St Cross bowled indifferently – frequently too short and with too much width – and Milton openers Tom Arnold and Dave Wakefield put on 30 between them.
But the left-arm spin spell of Worker (3-12), who bowled three maidens, unsettled New Milton, who lurched to 83 for six.
Lee Beck and Elliott (21 not out) defiantly put on 43 for the seventh wicket but first-ball ducks for Loader and George Watts ended any resistance as the home side ended on 136 all out.
“A lot of it was down to poor shot selection. No one wanted to dig in and get 40not out to win the game, which was disappointing,” Park reflected.
