In a pulsating afternoons cricket, Sarisbury triumphed in the crucial battle for the top of the table (July 30).
In the stifling Hollow heat, due to both sun and scenario, the top-two teams in Bronze took to the field, for a match which should decide the title race.
Skipper Hammond lost the toss and was inserted by the opposition. An interesting decision, which perhaps spoke more of Romsey’s fear of our bowling than confidence in their own.
Banks (40) and Norris (54), were unleashed on the Romsey seamers and took no prisoners as they racked up 71 off the first 10 overs.
A huge score looked more than possible. Boundaries rained down at the Hollow like arrows with both batsmen recording maximums.
The run-away train was derailed, however, when Banks looked to deposit one of the seamers into the allotments and was adjudged leg before.
The loss of Norris shortly afterwards led to a spirited fightback from Romsey, as their two off-spinners immediately found line, length and no little turn.
Journeaux (1) and Miller (2) quickly perished as they tried to support Hammond (29), who unluckily smacked a full toss down short cover’s throat.
The wheels were coming off at 137 5 in the 28th over, but good work from Orr (24) and then McKeever (21) allowed Sarisbury to post 198 all out.
OTs probably felt fairly confident as they began their reply. However, they had not banked on facing the best pace bowling attack in the league.
A good start which combined tigerish fielding, accurate bowling, and the odd wicket was required. And Ingram (10-1-38-4), fresh from his American holiday, supplied handsomely, removing Destefano, one of Romsey’s form players, LBW for 0.
Mills (32) at the other end was playing anchor, grittily resisting the Sarisbury pace onslaught and dispatching anything loose to the boundary with no little power.
As Sharp kept things tight at the other end, Ingram struck again with Trodd (17) soon in the hutch, well caught by Norris. A fluctuating Romsey order stuck to their task with great determination, the importance of the match not lost on any of the players.
Banks (10-2-43-5), however, was a cut above the rest, his probing line, coupled with decent pace, too much for the batsmen to handle. The masters of seam bowling blew the Romsey batting line-up away, sharing nine wickets between them and seeing Sarisbury safely home by the margin of 41 runs.
