SPCL1 Week10 - Liphook win compounds Calmore misery

Western Australian Brad Thompson hit a century as Bashley (Rydal) flexed their muscles for next Saturday's clash with ECB Southern Electric Premier League champions, Havant, by beating Calmore Sports by 78 runs at Loperwood Park.

The result consolidated Bashley's mid-table standing, but left Calmore marooned at the basement. Liphook's 102-run win over Portsmouth has heightened Calmore's predicament.

The teams had tied the previous evening's New Forest CA President's Cup final - Bashley lifted the trophy by virtue of losing fewer wickets - but there was no doubting their superiority once Thompson, with a six and 14 fours in an accomplished 107, got together with Sketchley.

Their third-wicket partnership yielded 149 with Chris Sketchley's 81 including a six and 11 boundary strikes.

Their stand enabled Bashley to reach 284-4 declared off 60 overs - a target always beyond Calmore's remit.

Nonetheless, former Academy opener Martin Bushell played a full part in keeping Calmore's interest very much alive.

The former Finchampstead teenager hit 94, including 15 fours, and piloted Calmore to a spirited 165-4 (Kevin Nash 3-47) before a rejuvenated Ben Nolan-Stone (3-32) broke the Loperwood resistance with a decisive mid-innings spell.

His three-wicket burst, aided by the telling off-spin of Sketchley, sent Calmore's last six batsmen tumbling for 41 runs and the innings to a 206-run close.

Andover began promisingly at Havant Park, with Mark Miller (27) and Toby Radford (20) easing the total to 56-1 before the roof caved in.

Wily left-arm slow man Phil Loat (4-31 had both players caught by Paul Gover at short extra-cover, had skipper Roger Miller caught and then clean bowled Tim Keighley to have Andover rocking at 77-6.

Ian Gardner (16), Matt Hooper (16 not out) and Cillie van der Merwe got into double figures in the lower-order, but Middlesex Academy bound teenager Chris Wright (3-44) and Richard Hindley (2-21) broke through to leave Andover 126 all out.

When Richard Taylor nailed Dominic Carson (0), Andover thought they might have a slight chance of causing a surprise. But it was not to be.

Simon Barnard, with an undefeated 48, and Richard Hindley (37) restored parity with a 75-run stand before Andy Perry (32 not out) completed the eight-wicket formalities.