BASHLEY skipper Andy Neal hailed Neil Thurgood and Andy Sexton after the most successful opening pair in the SPL had smashed through the 10,000-run barrier.

Sexton’s seventh century in the competition brought up the milestone and helped pave the way for a comprehensive 131-run victory over title rivals Totton & Eling.

It took his personal tally to 4,783 with Thurgood’s 5,239 giving the Bashley stalwarts a combined total of 10,022. They remain the two leading run-scorers in SPL history.

Neal said: “They have gelled as an opening partnership. Very rarely do they fail together and, nine times out of 10, one of them will come off. They are both very good players and both very different. It is a fantastic achievement and they deserve 10,000 runs between them.”

Sexton (120) and an undefeated 132 from Richard Morris saw Bashley rattle up an imposing 355 for four on a BCG pitch described by Neal as “a road”.

And while Morris registered his second century of the season, the former Hampshire man received solid support from Dan Friedman (41) and Nick Baker (38).

Although Simon Steel (107) checked Bashley’s progress, the leaders opened up a gap at the summit after dismissing the Eels for 224.

Neal added: “It is a massive statement for us, especially getting 355 and then bowling them out because it is no easy task on our pitch.

“Jake Lilley bowled a great spell from the top end after tea and changed the game for us. He got Steel and we started believing again.”

Lilley (3-49) and Sexton (3-21) helped ensure Bashley would be the only winners in the top five following the first round of timed games.

• Jekyll and Hyde Lymington bounced back in style to register a rare timed victory over Alton at the Sports Ground.

Despatched for a record 376 at Havant the previous week, the Lymington bowlers knuckled down to ensure a 62-run triumph – their first win in the format for two years.

Bryn Darbyshire (57) underpinned Lymington’s modest 240 with Christian Pain (43), Damian Shirazi (32) and Wahid Khan (30) also chipping in with valuable runs.

However, the star of the show for Lymington was undoubtedly 16-year-old Nick ‘Pixie’ Elliott, who showed great maturity and responsibility for his undefeated 32.

Opening pair Shirazi (3-56) and Ed Freeman (4-32) – including the prize scalp of dangerman Dave Taylor – helped Lymington dismiss Alton for 178.

• Bournemouth’s title hopes took a dent when they suffered an unexpected 23-run defeat at the hands of struggling Hampshire Academy at Chapel Gate.

Matt Metcalfe (4-58) claimed three of the top four before Simon Ridley (3-27) ripped out the heart of the middle order as the young Royals were dismissed for 199.

However, although Nick Park and Michael Porter (32) put on 47 for the first wicket, Jamie Miller (5-64) had the Lions in all sorts of trouble.

Mark House (40) stood his ground until Miller claimed his scalp with Bournemouth eventually succumbing for 176.