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Ronchi wins Europa Trophy for Bashley (Rydal) Mike Vimpany - 3 February 2001
Western Australian teenager Luke Ronchi walked off with the Man of the Match award after leading Bashley (Rydal) to their first Southern Premier League Knockout Cup triumph at the County Ground. Ronchi hit 53 and snapped up two catches behind the stumps as Bashley snatched a thrilling four-wicket win over SPL2 champions Liphook & Ripsley. Four wides off the fourth ball of the final over eventually took Bashley past Liphook's 124-6 in a match reduced to 18 overs per side. At one stage, it apeared as though Bashley would coast to victory under threatening rain-leaden skies. Ronchi (53) and Neil Thurgood (43) seemed to have the game won after a 74-run opening partnership. But Bashley, still favourites at 95-3 with four overs remaining, wobbled alarmingly, losing three wickets to Liphook's Wellington all-rounder Mayu Pasupati (3-34) before being crowned cup winners. They still needed five runs off Matt Eaton's final over, but a crisply struck three by Neil Sexton effectively settled it before the Liphook bowler sent down his decisive leg-side wides. Liphook, whose 1993 cup win co-incided with a Hampshire League championship triumph, certainly gave Bashley a run for their money. They began well through the hard-hitting Steve Riley (21) and left-hander Graham Tyler (20), who had 36 runs on the board after only five overs. Kiwi Pasupati, who made produced match-winning performances in all four of Liphook's ties leading up to the final, hit a quick fire 31 and Cricketer Cup winner Nick Gay 37 not out before Kevin Nash (2-26) got some sort of control back for Bashley. But Liphook's 124-6 was arguably ten runs short of a defendable total, although Bashley made hard work of beating it. How they reached the Final
Bashley (Rydal)
Liphook & Ripsley © SPCL
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