Mitch Stokes confessed he “couldn’t move a bone or muscle in his body” the day after he smashed an astonishing century to lead Basingstoke & North Hants to a two-wicket Southern Premier League Division 1 victory over relegated Sarisbury Athletic at May’s Bounty.
Batting virtually on one leg due to a soccer-related knee injury sustained two months ago, Stokes cracked 107 off 68 balls as the Bountymen chased down Sarisbury’s 179-8.
He hit four sixes and 14 fours – 80 of his 107 coming in boundaries.
“I’m not sure how I got down to the non-striker’s end at times,” said Stokes, who has been playing against medical advice.
Sarisbury were on the back foot after a new ball spell by Martyn James (4-26) left them struggling at 73-5.
“We didn’t bat particularly well, but Sam Floyd (49) did well and together we put on almost 40 to get us up to 179-8,” said Sarisbury skipper Matt Journeaux, who made 26.
Jason Allmark (2-35), who has joined Sarisbury from Staffordshire side Rushall, had BNH wobbling at 11-2 – but then had to contend with Stokes !
The Basingstoke skipper, who made 14 twenty20 appearances for Hampshire, literally hit everything everywhere and had made his 107 by the time the reply had reached 144-5.
“He looked like he was playing on a different wicket to everyone else,” Journeaux added.
Three more wickets fell before Basingstoke eventually got over the line.
Neighbours Hook & Newnham Basics fielded a weakened side at Rowledge, where they suffered a 30-run defeat.
Ian Metcalfe (52) hit a half-century as Rowledge posted 176, while spin pair, New Zealander Sushant Balajee (3-22 and teenage left-armer George Keeley(3-38) sharing six of the wickets.
Much changed Totton & Eling, who avoided relegation by a whisker last season, lost by 65 runs to newly promoted Portsmouth at St Helen’s.
Totton can take consolation that their defeat on Southsea seafront was in many ways down to one opposing player – 18 year old Australian Fraser Hay, who smashed 88 off only 60 balls.
The Eels enjoyed early success with a wicket brace by Dan Collier (2-49) – but when Hay arrived at the crease the whole complexion of the game changed.
Hay, who arrived from the Perth WA Grade club Melville with a reputation for big hitting, took the Totton bowling to the cleaners, with three huge sixes and 15 fours.
“Passing cars and the St Helen’s pavilion clock were in danger as Fraser opened up,” beamed Portsmouth skipper Richie Locke.
There were still 12 overs left when Hay was out – after which Vikram Dawson (38) and Alex Hammond (35) took the total on to 243-8.
Teenager Oli Perrin, with a nine-four 50, and Tom Rouse (38) top scored in Totton’s 178 all out.
Newly promoted Old Tauntonians & Romsey enjoyed two early successes with the ball at Chapel Gate, but were eventually spun to an 83-run defeat by Bournemouth’s teenage spinners.
When Steve Smith (2-18) picked up two early scalps, OTs thought they might be in business.
But Brian Brigden (74) and Chris Park (59) wrested the initiative away from the visitors with a century-plus third-wicket stand.
Stuart Shapland (2-37) enjoyed later success to reduce Bournemouth to 158-5, but three lusty blows by Robbie Pack (21 not out) sent the ball out of the ground and the Lions to 220-7.
Batting has not been strength in recent seasons and only Harry Tulk (31) made his mark as first teenage leggie Jem Warner (3-39) and later left-armer Dom Clutterbuck (4-7) sent them tumbling to 137 all out.
Liphook & Ripsley made an impressive start with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Andover in warm sunshine at Ripsley Park.
The visitors were soon in trouble at 29-4 and 60-5 with opening bowlers Suman Ganguly (4-30) and teenager George Neave (2-18) the main attackers.
New Zealander left hander Jamie O'Gorman, nevertheless, hit a fluent 51 before being bowled by Chaz Janczur 2-39.
Seeking to recover, Andover continued losing wickets, with only skipper Matt Hooper (29) making much impression.
They were finally dismissed for 152 with 11 overs unused. There was a wicket each for Sean Burton and Dave Elliott.
In reply, Hampshire Under-16 prospect Gabe Broadhurst (26) made his SPL debut with a fluent knock.
With opening partner Rob Nicklin 68 not out in fine form, Liphook were always on top reaching their target with 20 overs in hand at 155-2.
Nicklin's 68 not out included ten boundaries and partnerships of 56, 51 and 43 with Broadhurst, Chris Martin (33) and Ganguly, who was 19 not out.
Batting virtually on one leg due to a soccer-related knee injury sustained two months ago, Stokes cracked 107 off 68 balls as the Bountymen chased down Sarisbury’s 179-8.
He hit four sixes and 14 fours – 80 of his 107 coming in boundaries.
“I’m not sure how I got down to the non-striker’s end at times,” said Stokes, who has been playing against medical advice.
Sarisbury were on the back foot after a new ball spell by Martyn James (4-26) left them struggling at 73-5.
“We didn’t bat particularly well, but Sam Floyd (49) did well and together we put on almost 40 to get us up to 179-8,” said Sarisbury skipper Matt Journeaux, who made 26.
Jason Allmark (2-35), who has joined Sarisbury from Staffordshire side Rushall, had BNH wobbling at 11-2 – but then had to contend with Stokes !
The Basingstoke skipper, who made 14 twenty20 appearances for Hampshire, literally hit everything everywhere and had made his 107 by the time the reply had reached 144-5.
“He looked like he was playing on a different wicket to everyone else,” Journeaux added.
Three more wickets fell before Basingstoke eventually got over the line.
Neighbours Hook & Newnham Basics fielded a weakened side at Rowledge, where they suffered a 30-run defeat.
Ian Metcalfe (52) hit a half-century as Rowledge posted 176, while spin pair, New Zealander Sushant Balajee (3-22 and teenage left-armer George Keeley(3-38) sharing six of the wickets.
Much changed Totton & Eling, who avoided relegation by a whisker last season, lost by 65 runs to newly promoted Portsmouth at St Helen’s.
Totton can take consolation that their defeat on Southsea seafront was in many ways down to one opposing player – 18 year old Australian Fraser Hay, who smashed 88 off only 60 balls.
The Eels enjoyed early success with a wicket brace by Dan Collier (2-49) – but when Hay arrived at the crease the whole complexion of the game changed.
Hay, who arrived from the Perth WA Grade club Melville with a reputation for big hitting, took the Totton bowling to the cleaners, with three huge sixes and 15 fours.
“Passing cars and the St Helen’s pavilion clock were in danger as Fraser opened up,” beamed Portsmouth skipper Richie Locke.
There were still 12 overs left when Hay was out – after which Vikram Dawson (38) and Alex Hammond (35) took the total on to 243-8.
Teenager Oli Perrin, with a nine-four 50, and Tom Rouse (38) top scored in Totton’s 178 all out.
Newly promoted Old Tauntonians & Romsey enjoyed two early successes with the ball at Chapel Gate, but were eventually spun to an 83-run defeat by Bournemouth’s teenage spinners.
When Steve Smith (2-18) picked up two early scalps, OTs thought they might be in business.
But Brian Brigden (74) and Chris Park (59) wrested the initiative away from the visitors with a century-plus third-wicket stand.
Stuart Shapland (2-37) enjoyed later success to reduce Bournemouth to 158-5, but three lusty blows by Robbie Pack (21 not out) sent the ball out of the ground and the Lions to 220-7.
Batting has not been strength in recent seasons and only Harry Tulk (31) made his mark as first teenage leggie Jem Warner (3-39) and later left-armer Dom Clutterbuck (4-7) sent them tumbling to 137 all out.
Liphook & Ripsley made an impressive start with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Andover in warm sunshine at Ripsley Park.
The visitors were soon in trouble at 29-4 and 60-5 with opening bowlers Suman Ganguly (4-30) and teenager George Neave (2-18) the main attackers.
New Zealander left hander Jamie O'Gorman, nevertheless, hit a fluent 51 before being bowled by Chaz Janczur 2-39.
Seeking to recover, Andover continued losing wickets, with only skipper Matt Hooper (29) making much impression.
They were finally dismissed for 152 with 11 overs unused. There was a wicket each for Sean Burton and Dave Elliott.
In reply, Hampshire Under-16 prospect Gabe Broadhurst (26) made his SPL debut with a fluent knock.
With opening partner Rob Nicklin 68 not out in fine form, Liphook were always on top reaching their target with 20 overs in hand at 155-2.
Nicklin's 68 not out included ten boundaries and partnerships of 56, 51 and 43 with Broadhurst, Chris Martin (33) and Ganguly, who was 19 not out.