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SPCL 2 - Academy stay top thanks to ton from Benham
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 15 July 2002
Hampshire's Academy team remain top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 after Chris Benham's unbeaten century secured a 31-run win over Winchester KS at the Rose Bowl.
Benham hit an undefeated 119 as the Academy established a slender four-point lead on United Services, who struggled to beat lowly Rowledge.
Ironically, the Loughborough University batsman didn't arrive at the crease until Iain Brunnschweiler (37) and Jimmy Adams (49) had eased the Academy to 95-3.
But Benham, whose century included 15 fours, and Kevin Latouf (35) pushed on as the county youngsters amassed a formidable 281-5. Under-17 hero David Wheeler notched 24 off 14 balls.
Winchester certainly made a creditable reply, with Raj Naik (73) and Jimmy Taylor (57) scoring at seven runs an over and easing their score to 143-3 before James Manning removed both batsmen.
Irfan Shah took over after that, taking 5-51 as WKS reached 250 all out, with Brunnschweiler snapping up three stumpings.
Second placed United Services survived a late collapse before sealing a two-wicket win over battling Rowledge at Burnaby Road.
They appeared pretty satisfied with their afternoon's work after Guy Lewis (3-32) had helped peg Rowledge to 153 all out (Ricky Yates 33).
Chris Yates senior (3-19) had US in difficulty at 53-3, but Gary Hounsome (38) and Damian Carson (29) appeared to have averted serious problems as the title chasers reached 105-3.
But US collapsed 128-8 before veterans Paul Barsby and Kelson Brooks add last 26 runs and take the Portsmouth side home.
Lymington's four-wicket win over Old Tauntonians & Romsey was almost entirely due to Western Australian teenager Aaron Heal, who struck a match-winning 67.
They bowled OTR out for 148, but got themselves in a pickle before clinching victory.
Danny Peacock's gamble to give himself the new ball paid dividends when he had run-happy left-hander Charles Forward (15) caught behind.
Indeed, when OTR slumped to 61-6 - with only Paul Longland (40) battling it out - it looked as though Lymington might be on an early bus home.
Pacey left-armer Martin Hunt (4-28) carved through the middle-order.
But the Romsey tail wagged, initially through Ian Tulk (16) and Keith Trodd (17), but more significantly with last pair Nick Wood (21) and Mukesh Morjaria (16 not out) adding 27 and taking the total to 148.
When Ben Craft (26) helped Heal ease Lymington's reply to 97-2, it looked curtains for OTR.
Heal survived a confident run-out appeal midway through his innings, and averted a clatter of middle-order wickets fell before clinching victory.
Shaun Green was the star of Easton & Martyr Worthy's 87-run win over Hungerford, who are teetering close to the relegation zone.
Green hit 49 and then took 5-16 as Hungerford tumbled to 111 all out after Easton had posted 198-5.
Easton's top order all batted soundly with Ian Butcher (54), Green (49) and skipper Steve Green (27) fending off David Pryke (3-25) to seal the visitors' position.
Hungerford lost their first three wickets for only one run - two of them to Mark Stone (2-22) before Owen Dawkins (53) and Danny Williams (27) launched a fightback.
But Green's five-wicket spell reduced Hungerford to 111 all out. Trojans relegation fight took a positive turn with a six-wicket win over Sparsholt at Stoneham Lane.
Ian Stuart (65), supported by Ollie Kelly (26) and Dave Tonge (24) helped the visitors reach 211-6 (Simon Williams 3-60).
But, led by Mario Mohamed (65), Trojans motored along. Nigel le Bas (32) gave admirable support before Jamie Donaldson's 56 - and a huge helping of 42 extras - took Trojans home .... and off the foot of the table.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Christopher Benham, Iain Brunnschweiler, James Adams, Rajesh Naik, James Taylor, Irfan Shah, Daniel Peacock, David Pryke, Owen Dawkins. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |