Southern Electric Premier League – Division 2 –

New Milton 175 all out (49.4 overs) : Hook and Newnham Basics 176-9 (48.5 overs)

Following a shaky start on a bowler friendly wicket, New Milton recovered to post a total they hoped to defend. Hook responded positively but then suffered a major collapse leaving the last two wickets with improbable challenge of adding a further 53. Somehow, against the odds, the last three batsmen managed to frustrate the visitors to win by one wicket and end their season’s dominance at the top spot of the Division 2.
New Milton were asked to bat on a green challenging wicket at Hook, and openers Matt Freeman and Dan Adlem made steady progress against quickies Hobday and Williams, with careful defence punctuated by well placed boundaries. Just as Adlem (16 with 3 boundaries) was playing comfortably he was adjudged out lbw off Williams (10-1-34) to a ball which appeared to be going well down leg. Captain Wheeler (4) stroked a sweet boundary, but soon fell to a catch by keeper Hunter off veteran spinner Poulter. Matt Freemen (24 with 4 boundaries) who had survived a number of aggressive, often ridiculous appeals was then adjudged lbw to medium pacer Thane. James Whitehurst (0) played back his first four balls, but with the next Poulter (10-2-21) delivery, despite a full step forward was also adjudged out lbw on 50-4 after 17 overs. Lee Beck and Eric Linge, heroes of last week, came together once again to rebuild the visitor’s innings, adding an invaluable 63 over the next 17 overs as captain Thane rotated his bowlers. Linge (45 with 7 boundaries) fell just short of his second successive half century when he was caught Love off Willcock (5-2-16), who next ball had Ben Neal (0) stretching to hit a very wide ball straight to Poulter at 113-6. Beck was now joined by the inform Dan Loader (25 with I boundary and 1 six) and together they pushed on adding 40 at four an over until he was caught Hobday off Thane (6-2-20) at 153-7 with five overs remaining. One run later the defiant Lee Beck (31 with 4 boundaries) was bowled by spinner Divecha (8-1-38), as brother Ryan Beck (16 in 11 balls with 2 boundaries) and Nick Gargaro (5 no) added a quick 20 before he was caught Hunter off the returning Hobday (10-2-39, who two balls later clean bowled Tom Prodomo (0).
Hook began their reply with Hobday and captain Ben Thane who was determined to close the gap with Dave Wheeler at the top of Div2 batting. The two made a worryingly good start as they used the extra pace of Eric Linge and Dave Wheeler to reach the boundary over the quick outfield. In the eighth over 48 was already on the board, when Wheeler (10-1-55) had Thane (10 ) adjudged lbw. Marsh joined Hobday (31 with 6 boundaries) who was threatening to take the game away with his positive play until he he was well caught by keeper Prodomo off Eric Linge (10-1-33). After a short spell by Lee Beck, the pace was taken off the ball with the trusted duo of spinner Ryan Beck and left arm seamer Nick Gargaro. Runs were still coming quickly from the partnership of Marsh (23 with 3 boundaries) and Love until he fell to a catch by Linge off Ryan Beck. Love was now beginning to put the bowlers under pressure as Willcock (4 from20 balls) defended until he was bowled by Beck. This was the start of a remarkable collapse with 5 wickets falling for just 7 runs, putting New Milton into a real match winning situation for the first time. The dangerous top scorer Love (35 with 5 boundaries) was caught by Wheeler off Gargaro at 119-5 with still 20 overs left. Two runs added and the stubborn Hunter (2 ) was caught and bowled Gargaro, another two runs Allnutt (2) was bowled by Beck (10-3-31) and on the same total Buckingham (2) was sharply stumped by Prodomo off Gargaro (10-3-16). Hook had slumped to 123-8, still requiring 53 to win but with 15 overs in hand. With over allocations completed, the captain revert to pace expecting to complete the breakthrough, but the wily veteran Poulter was able to use the extra speed off the wicket and was well supported by Divecha. Helped by two missed catches the pair added 42 as the second highest partnership, until under used Dan Loader (4-1-8) clean bowled Poulter (23 with 4 boundaries). Four overs to go, 11 runs or 1 wicket required and number 11 nursing an injured finger. The tense last balls were played out with visiting spectators still hoping for the golden delivery or catch, but despite so many near misses, Divecha (8 no) and Williams (7 no) held out with the tail ender hitting the winning boundary with just 7 balls to spare, at the end of an exciting game which New Milton will feel they let slip through their fingers. The team, at the top of Div2 all season, have now slipped from top spot to Andover who called off their match due to overnight rain.

Posted on July 20th, 2010 by James Whitehurst
Filed under: Club News