Bashley CC claim maiden Premier title with victory over Tigers

Southern Premier Division: Bournemouth CC 238-5 v Bashley CC 240-5 (Bashley CC win by five wickets)

BASHLEY (Rydal) CC have won their maiden Southern Premier Division title with a five-wicket victory over Bournemouth at Chapel Gate.

Ross Grierson took three crucial wickets in the first innings as Bournemouth posted 238-5. In response, Tom Friend scored 84* off 74 balls to see Bashley over the line and hand them the championship.

Bournemouth won the toss and elected to bat under the beating sun. Bashley struggled with the ball early on with Nick Park (47) and Tom Robinson (52) putting together a 105-run first-wicket partnership in the bat-friendly conditions.

However, the game swung in the visitors' favour when Grierson (3-33) came into the attack. He removed both openers in quick succession with the wicket of Adam Davies (3) to restrict the Tigers to 109-3.

After the flurry of wickets, Luke Matthews and Simon Woodruff picked up where their openers left off. Matthews smashed 73 off 65 balls which included nine fours and two sixes while Woodruff was content to rotate the strike during his 40.

The pair guided Bournemouth to 238-5 off 50 overs, leaving Bashley with an uphill challenge.

In response, Michael Porter and Tom Jacques opened up and reached 50 before Woodruff bowled Jacques for 25. Ben Walker (30) and Porter (32) both got starts but failed to convert as Bashley slumped to 100-3. Friend entered the frame with George Wilson after Phil Morris (9) and George Pardoe (11) fell victim to Robert Pack.

Friend (84*) was the aggressor as he struck six fours and three sixes during his innings while Wilson (35*) played a cameo role to stem the flow of wickets. The pair put on a 96-run partnership to hand Bashley their first Southern Premier championship.

With the title in hand, Bashley will celebrate on the final day of the season as they face third-placed South Wilts on Saturday at the BCG.