Match report: Bashley (Rydal) CC (211-3) overcame a strong start from South Wilts CC (210) to seal a seven-wicket win to climb to second in the Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) Premier Division
Bashley (Rydal) dispatched the league’s lowest-placed side, but they did it in style, racing to a seven-wicket win at home on Saturday to climb the table to second place.
It was a team display, with four bowlers – Louis Prichard, Jacob Stevenson, George Wilson, and Jacob Gordon – all taking two wickets, while Ethan Baker, Jack Stearman and Gordon all scored more than 50 runs.
“It was a flat deck at Bashley, as it always is,” said Bashley (Rydal) ’s Jacob Gordon. “South Wilts off to a flyer, but we bowled pretty tidily, and some soft dismissals from South Wilts gave away what should have been a score of at least 250!
“Then Ethan Baker and Jack Stearnam were setting the base again, allowing me and others to come in and get the game finished. Our all-round strong performance, all while missing some crucial players, really shows the club has depth.
Gordon added: “It’s great to move to second, but we’re not thinking about it too much as we were first for the majority of last summer and missed out on the title!
“As long as we are at the top at crucial parts of the summer, that’s all that matters.”
South Wilts won the toss and elected to bat, which proved to be a good choice despite the loss of Matthew Falconer (2), who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Patrick Lewis off the bowling of Dan Goodey (1-27), with 28 runs on the board. Wicketkeeper Lewis would finish the afternoon with four catches.
South Wilts’ James Degg (57) top-scored for the visitors, but once he was dismissed thanks to a catch by Jack Stearman off Gordon’s (2-34) delivery, wickets proved easier to come by.
The Bashley wickets came from Stevenson (2-11), Prichard (2-34), Wilson (2-35), and Baker (1-32), and the visitors finished on 210 after 39.3 overs.
In reply, Bashley opener Alex Turner scored a quickfire 22 runs off 19 balls before he lost his wicket to Henry Dunlop (1-38) at 32-1.
However, from there, the hosts took control, with Baker (67) and Jack Stearman – 63 off 61 balls – adding 100 runs for the second wicket before Stearman departed at 200-3.
That left the New Forest side 11 runs shy of victory, which Gordon (50 not out) and Will Tripcony (1 not out) wasted no time delivering with seven wickets remaining after 42.1 overs played.
Bashley (Rydal) will take on Portsmouth, who, like Bashley, have won two of their three matches so far, away from home at St Helens Ground on Saturday at 12.30pm.
