SKIPPER Richard Morris was keen to focus on his own side’s performance after Bashley swept aside under-strength Totton & Eling on Saturday.
Bash wiped out the hosts’ wickets for 99 runs at the Linden Oval as Totton sent two of their top men, James Haggaty and Dylan Augustus, to their second team fixture at US Portsmouth.
Wickets fell consistently as Andrew Neal (3-31) saw off Totton’s top three before Simon Ridley (2-12) and Simon Watkins (2-10) tidied up the tail end.
And Morris’s men made light work of their tiny target as Neil Thurgood (40*) and Brandon Gilmour (26*) teamed up for an unbeaten 48, firing the visitors to 103 for two and an eight-wicket victory.
But despite not facing Totton’s top charges, the BCG captain lauded his team’s efforts as Bash recorded their third straight league victory.
Morris told the Daily Echo: “Obviously they were not at full strength but we did our job and played really well. You can only beat what is put in front of you and to bowl any side out for less than 100 at this level is an achievement.
“The opposition’s team selection is none of our concern and I wouldn’t want that to detract from what was a very strong performance from the boys.”
Elsewhere, Lymington continued on their road to recovery with a 128-run victory at St Cross Symondians.
The visitors were put in to bat and quickly hit their stride with Scott Henry (85) and Cameron Grierson putting on 75 for the second wicket.
Matt Metcalfe (42) also scored well as Lymo registered 231 for seven before getting their defence off to the perfect start when Metcalfe (4-38) trapped opener Charlie Esson leg-before without score.
William Walsh (52) steadily racked up the runs but the hosts never looked like gaining the required run-rate and, with Lymo’s Dave Kidner (3-19) in fine form, St Cross were dismissed for a paltry 103.
Meanwhile, backmarkers Bournemouth were beaten at Ventnor despite a battling display on the Isle of Wight.
Early wickets from Alex Keath (2-29) helped put Martin Miller’s men in a strong position with the hosts labouring on 113 for six, despite Travis Head’s (58) strong start, but former Lion Chris Ridley (61) teamed up with Jamie Miller (38) to lead Ventnor’s fightback with a 91-run partnership.
Chasing 233, Bournemouth lost early wickets of their own with Ventnor’s Mark Holmes (5-59) in fine fettle, and despite the best efforts of Ben Rogers (41), George Anderson (45*) and Tom Wainwright (33), the visitors could only muster 188.
In Division One, New Milton maintained their recent run of form with a two-wicket win at Rowledge.
The hosts set a target of 207 all-out which was surpassed by strong stands from Milton’s Mark House (45), Toby Edwards (44) and Lee Beck (33). The visitors ended the day on 208 for eight off 49 overs.
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