Bad days at the office – or mornings of late – are becoming an all too common theme for St Cross Symondians, whose three-wicket defeat by Alton was their fifth in eight games.
For the second time in three Time pennant matches they were bowled out almost before lunch – Alton having them on the rack at 98-9 when the rains came just as a tasty lasagne dish was being served up.
St Cross were bowled out for 125 in 36 overs – a target Alton polished off with plenty of time to spare, albeit seven wickets down.
St Cross had produced the other side of their enigmatic character by comfortably beating Burridge a week earlier.
But they were on the back foot at the Jubilee Ground directly Ben Mortimer (3-32) nipped out openers Tom Foyle and Dan Young before they had double figures on the board.
New Zealander Michael Pollard (48) shored up one end but Mortimer removed Wilf Marriott and then before Scott Myers (3-25) picked up the first of three wickets by having Adam Rouse caught.
Alton continued to eke out wickets around Pollard, who was eventually bowled by spinner Jack Myers (3-32) leaving Harry Foyle (27 not out) to at least give the visitors something to defend.
Alton progressed to 49-1 (Alex Hammond 25) before losing two wickets in quick succession.
St Cross, principally through Tabs Farooq (4-26), continued to chip away, but after Mortimer (18) biffed four quick boundaries, Scott Myers was able to hit an unbeaten 28 and guide Alton to a fourth win.
Teenager left-hander Ben Duggan celebrated his Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month award with an another half-century for the Hampshire Academy, whose seven-wicket win left Ventnor fastened to the Premier Division basement.
Cowes-based Duggan, who spent last summer at Ventnor before being recruited by the Academy, hit 59 as the county aspirants comfortably chased down the visitors’ 154 all out.
Jake Goodwin joined in the celebrations, hitting a quick fire 48 after taking two wickets upon his return from a broken hand.
Ironically, Ventnor’s ultimately miserable day – heighted by Neil Westhorpe breaking his forearm – began on a promising note with Jake George (32) and Tasmanian Sean Willis easing the islanders to 90-1.
But a catastrophic collapse saw Ventnor lose four wickets for five runs – and fall to bits.
Durham University’s Jack Wood triggered things by having George caught. Then Goodwin (3-26) snapped up two wickets in successive balls.
His potential hat-trick ball cracked Westhorpe on the arm, forcing the left-hander to retire hurt after battling the pain for another 13 balls.
Willis (63) was eventually seventh out at 147, after which Ventnor slipped to 154 all out, with Josh McCoy taking 3-31.
It was largely academic after that with Duggan striking 11 fours in his 59 and taking his season’s run tally to five shy of 400 in the process.
Goodwin made up for lost time – he spent a month on the side lines with his hand injury – by smashing two sixes and eight fours in a 28-ball 48 which finished the game.
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For the second time in three Time pennant matches they were bowled out almost before lunch – Alton having them on the rack at 98-9 when the rains came just as a tasty lasagne dish was being served up.
St Cross were bowled out for 125 in 36 overs – a target Alton polished off with plenty of time to spare, albeit seven wickets down.
St Cross had produced the other side of their enigmatic character by comfortably beating Burridge a week earlier.
But they were on the back foot at the Jubilee Ground directly Ben Mortimer (3-32) nipped out openers Tom Foyle and Dan Young before they had double figures on the board.
New Zealander Michael Pollard (48) shored up one end but Mortimer removed Wilf Marriott and then before Scott Myers (3-25) picked up the first of three wickets by having Adam Rouse caught.
Alton continued to eke out wickets around Pollard, who was eventually bowled by spinner Jack Myers (3-32) leaving Harry Foyle (27 not out) to at least give the visitors something to defend.
Alton progressed to 49-1 (Alex Hammond 25) before losing two wickets in quick succession.
St Cross, principally through Tabs Farooq (4-26), continued to chip away, but after Mortimer (18) biffed four quick boundaries, Scott Myers was able to hit an unbeaten 28 and guide Alton to a fourth win.
Teenager left-hander Ben Duggan celebrated his Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month award with an another half-century for the Hampshire Academy, whose seven-wicket win left Ventnor fastened to the Premier Division basement.
Cowes-based Duggan, who spent last summer at Ventnor before being recruited by the Academy, hit 59 as the county aspirants comfortably chased down the visitors’ 154 all out.
Jake Goodwin joined in the celebrations, hitting a quick fire 48 after taking two wickets upon his return from a broken hand.
Ironically, Ventnor’s ultimately miserable day – heighted by Neil Westhorpe breaking his forearm – began on a promising note with Jake George (32) and Tasmanian Sean Willis easing the islanders to 90-1.
But a catastrophic collapse saw Ventnor lose four wickets for five runs – and fall to bits.
Durham University’s Jack Wood triggered things by having George caught. Then Goodwin (3-26) snapped up two wickets in successive balls.
His potential hat-trick ball cracked Westhorpe on the arm, forcing the left-hander to retire hurt after battling the pain for another 13 balls.
Willis (63) was eventually seventh out at 147, after which Ventnor slipped to 154 all out, with Josh McCoy taking 3-31.
It was largely academic after that with Duggan striking 11 fours in his 59 and taking his season’s run tally to five shy of 400 in the process.
Goodwin made up for lost time – he spent a month on the side lines with his hand injury – by smashing two sixes and eight fours in a 28-ball 48 which finished the game.
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