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St Cross still in SPCL3 hunt despite defeat to Alton
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 23 June 2002
St Cross Symondians are still in the thick of the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 leadership struggle - despite losing by 57 runs to promotion rivals Alton at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.
Three of the top four sides lost, with leaders Purbrook piling up 274-7 only to crash to a six-wicket defeat by lowly Paultons, and New Milton suffering a mass batting collapse before losing by 12 runs at neighbours Bashley (Rydal) II.
Flamingo threw their name into the hat at the top by overhauling Hambledon's 219-6 to win by five wickets.
St Cross produced a languid performance and were always second best against Alton, who controlled the game after being offered first use of a placid surface at the pleasant, tree-lined army ground.
The visitors cashed in on some generally uninspiring St Cross out-cricket and happily motored along at a rate of five runs or more an over before a pre-tea assault, which yielded 51 runs from the last seven overs, took them to a lofty 252-5.
St Cross got to 106-1 off 29 overs, but were never able to force the pace against an Alton side which batted, bowled and fielded better on the day. They withered to 196 all out before conceding a 57-run defeat.
"It was a disappointing performance. We bowled far too many four balls and didn't do ourselves justice at all," agreed St Cross skipper Matt Perry-Lewis.
Stuart Charman produced a useful new-ball burst, removing the forceful Richie Morgan at 37-1.
But he badly missed the support of miserly left-arm seam partner Paul Stringer, who may have to retire prematurely from the game because of a long standing shoulder problem.
In his absence, Alton opener Michael Heffernan generally bossed most of the afternoon session, punishing anything over-pitched and gleefully tucking into anything dropped short that sat up and begged to be hit.
There was all too much of that for St Cross's comfort - all four of Charman's bowling partners suffering from a lacklustre day at the office.
Heffernan, finding the gaps on the spacious outfield, hit a six and ten fours in an accomplished 82 - his innings disappointingly ending at 162-4, with a deserved maiden century for the 22 year old in sight.
But there was to be no reprieve for St Cross, whose attack suffered more punishment, initially from Alton skipper Julian Ballinger (38), but more so from the tall South African Bruce Oliphant, who led the last ten-over blitz.
Oliphant, who moved to Alton from Durban six years ago, used his height and reach to great effect, launching a series of aerial shots which the St Cross fielders were unable to counter.
Twice he lofted straight sixes in a breezy 51 not out as Alton gorged 51 runs off the last seven overs to finish with an impressive 252-5.
St Cross, needing to score at five runs an over from the start, didn't get the opportunity to feast off as many bad balls.
Alton bowled a much tidier line, pegging St Cross to 50 runs off the initial 15 overs and 91-1 at the 25-over drinks break.
New Zealander Mark Parker (56) played some exquisite shots off his legs but his 84-run second-wicket partnership with Steve Shaw (23) was never one of dominance.
That owed much to Julian Ballinger's nagging leg-stump line that eventually frustrated the dangerous left-handed Shaw into a `hit out or get out' policy.
Shaw's departure at 106-2 in the 29th over was the beginning of the end for St Cross, who began to lose wickets to Howard Gadsby (4-46) and Oliphant (3-22).
The Winchester club dipped to 169-9 - the father and son Heffernan trio having a hand in six of those wickets - before a late flurry by teenager Chris Edwards took St Cross on to 196 all out.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |
| Grounds | Green Jackets Ground, Winchester |