A stunning one handed diving catch by New Milton’s Dan Loader to dismiss Bashley captain Michael Porter (79) swung this game back in New Milton’s favour as Bashley were closing in on the 209 required to win and this was after Porter had won the toss and chose to field but the hoped for breakthrough by his opening bowlers did not materialise as Tom Arnold (59) and David Wakefield (85) had an opening stand of 142 when Arnold was bowled by Josh Digby (2-37) who then 4 runs later caught and bowled Lee Beck for one. Gavin Bailiff took the next wicket to fall by bowling Wakefield with the score on 174-3. Two wickets then fell with the total 180 but Nick Elliott and Ollie Shrubsole took the score onto 206-6 and the New Milton innings closed on 208-7 from their 50 overs.
David Wakefield N.M. 85
Tom Arnold N.M. 59
New Miltons opening bowler George Watts (3-23) then took the Bashley top three batsmen out to leave them on the back foot with the score 27-3 but Bailiff and Porter then had a 30 run partnership before Bailiff (19) was caught by Watts off the bowling of Joe Hall and when Tom Jacques was caught by Ryan Beck off the left armer James Haggaty for 16 Bashley were a long way off their target at 79-5 but Porter in partnership with the ever reliable Chris Ridley (28), rebuilt the innings taking the total onto 142-6 when Ridley was caught and bowled by Haggaty (3-37). Sam Thomson (12) fell with the score on 166-7 but it was when the score was on 194 that Loader changed the course of this match with his champagne moment and although Digby scored 16 off 13 balls the Bashley innings closed on 206-8 to leave New Milton the winners by 2 runs in a match which ebbed and flowed to the very end.
Michael Porter Bashley
George Watts N.M. 3-23
