South Wilts will wrap up a record breaking fourth successive ECB Southern Electric Premier Division title if they beat relegation threatened Burridge at Bemerton this Saturday, 12.30.
An 11-run win at Bashley (Rydal) left South Wilts’ 31 points ahead of second placed Havant, who beat Sarisbury Athletic by four wickets.
South Wilts’ win at Bashley was far from plain sailing – the defending champions tumbling to 103-6 after run gun Tom Morton had gone to the first ball of the game.
But South Wilts bat in depth and when Western Australia’s Ryan Duffield added 86 with Rob Franklin the game changed.
Franklin's patient 37 was absolutely crucial, whilst Duffield's 85 off 101 balls showed immense restraint.
The Melville left-hander, pictured by Roy Honeybone, hit six fours and two sixes as South Wilts recovered to post 193-9.
Kevin Nash, Josh Digby and Simon Ridley each picked up two wickets for Bashey, who were without spin twins Sam Thomson and South Australia’s Tom Andrews, who has returned to Adelaide.
With a relatively modest total to defend, South Wilts needed to pick up wickets and restrict the run scoring. Bashley's openers got stuck into the task and wickets proved hard to get.
Michael Porter fell to Luke Evans at 27-1 and then Steve Warner dismissed Berkshire skipper James Morris (47-2).
Simon Ridley (35) and Richard Morris (37) took Bashley to 103 without further mishap – but the dismissal of Morris, caught off James Hibberd, triggered a mini-collapse as Bashley lost three cheap wickets getting to 130-6.
Chris Ridley (26) and Josh Digby pushed Bashley towards their target but the run rate was now in South Wilts' favour.
South Wilts held their nerve in a tense finish, with leg spinner Jake Foley picked up the final wicket off the final ball as South Wilts held on for an 11 run win. Ridley was left 26 not out as Bashley close 182-7.
Skipper Morton was elated with the tense win, "Another great team effort today. It wasn't easy out there, it wasn't a typical Bashley wicket, but we got there in the end."
An 11-run win at Bashley (Rydal) left South Wilts’ 31 points ahead of second placed Havant, who beat Sarisbury Athletic by four wickets.
South Wilts’ win at Bashley was far from plain sailing – the defending champions tumbling to 103-6 after run gun Tom Morton had gone to the first ball of the game.
But South Wilts bat in depth and when Western Australia’s Ryan Duffield added 86 with Rob Franklin the game changed.
Franklin's patient 37 was absolutely crucial, whilst Duffield's 85 off 101 balls showed immense restraint.
The Melville left-hander, pictured by Roy Honeybone, hit six fours and two sixes as South Wilts recovered to post 193-9.
Kevin Nash, Josh Digby and Simon Ridley each picked up two wickets for Bashey, who were without spin twins Sam Thomson and South Australia’s Tom Andrews, who has returned to Adelaide.
With a relatively modest total to defend, South Wilts needed to pick up wickets and restrict the run scoring. Bashley's openers got stuck into the task and wickets proved hard to get.
Michael Porter fell to Luke Evans at 27-1 and then Steve Warner dismissed Berkshire skipper James Morris (47-2).
Simon Ridley (35) and Richard Morris (37) took Bashley to 103 without further mishap – but the dismissal of Morris, caught off James Hibberd, triggered a mini-collapse as Bashley lost three cheap wickets getting to 130-6.
Chris Ridley (26) and Josh Digby pushed Bashley towards their target but the run rate was now in South Wilts' favour.
South Wilts held their nerve in a tense finish, with leg spinner Jake Foley picked up the final wicket off the final ball as South Wilts held on for an 11 run win. Ridley was left 26 not out as Bashley close 182-7.
Skipper Morton was elated with the tense win, "Another great team effort today. It wasn't easy out there, it wasn't a typical Bashley wicket, but we got there in the end."
