SPCL2 Week9 - Top three start to stretch away

Leaders St Cross Symondians, Old Tauntonians & Romsey and Easton & Martyr Worthy have established a significant lead at the top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2.

The trio enjoyed comfortable wins, with Steve Shaw nudging his season's aggregate towards the 500-run mark with a crisp 67 in St Cross's eight-wicket victory at United Services.

An immaculate spin spell by Matt Perry Lewis, who returned 2-15 in 12 overs, had US struggling at 76-4 at Burnaby Road, where Jim Matthews (40) and Tim Simmonite (42) swelled the hosts total to 175-5.

St Cross lost Fergus Haycock cheaply, but Steve Shaw (67) and Hampshire's Jon Francis (50 not out) eased the visitors to 132-2 before Kiwi Rhys Morgan (30 not out) arrived to settle affairs.

Shaun Green took 5-34 and Australian all-rounder Francis Gill hit 83 not out as Easton & Martyr Worthy crushed winless Purbrook (154) by nine wickets.

Green's nap hand spell ripped the middle out of Purbrook, who relied almost entirely on Will Prozesky (54) after the openers had been parted.

Easton quickly lost Dave Birch, but Ashley Spencer (52) and Gill, with an unbeaten 83, shared a century stand to take the visitors to the brink of an eight-wicket win.

Charles Forward and Raj Naik both hit 75 as Old Tauntonians & Romsey crushed Gosport Borough by eight wickets.

Mukesh Morjaria (3-27) was quickly in the money for OTR, who reduced Gosport to 62-4 before Mike Rees (83 not out)and Paul Jenkins (30) improved their lot.

But a total of 193-6 was never likely to disturb OT's, who coasted home with 14 overs to spare.

A chanceless century by Neil Cunningham set the stage for an important nine-run win for Burridge over on-song Sparsholt at Botley Road.

Cunningham hit two sixes and 12 fours in his century, which came up off exactly 100 balls.

He shared a century second-wicket partnership with Peter Tugwell (56) and then had Ian Williamson (21 not out) in support as Burridge reached a handy 226-2.

Tim Richnings (53) and Ollie Kelly (24) provided an 81-run response for Sparsholt, who had won their previous four matches.

Richings eventually fell to the guile of portly left-arm spinner Andy Ford, but with Nick Boxall (35) and Bill Gunyon (22) in tandem, Sparsholt were favourites at 133-2.

Roger Cawte's shrewd double bowling change, which introduced Phil Ransley (3-51) and Paul Friedrich (2-24) to the attack, turned the game around.

Sparsholt lost five wickets for only ten runs and effectively lost their chance. Mike Ball (31 not out) hit out in a desperate attempt to improve Sparsholt's eventual 217 all out.

Chris Tremlett is set for a return to the Hampshire ranks - probably in Wednesday's ECB Second XI Trophy match against Gloucestershire at the Rose Bowl - after celebrating a five-wicket comeback for his club side, Hursley Park.

The lanky county pace bowler, frustratingly sidelined with a right foot injury in recent weeks, took 5-14 in nine overs in Hursley Park's 70-run victory over Lymington at The Quarters.

Tremlett, run out without scoring when he batted earlier in the match, made an immediate impact with the new ball after tea.

He ripped out Zimbabwean brothers Tom and Danny Peacock in quick succession before coming back for a second spell and taking three more wickets.

Only Ben Craft, with a forceful 89, and latterly Adie Hunt (31) put up any significant resistance as Lymington crumbled to 169 all out and a fourth successive defeat.

Lymington were equally undone by Paul Edwards, whose classy 107 laid the foundations for Hursley's 239-8.

Adie Aymes (28), Sandeep Halder (45) and James Lush (24) all chipped in around Edwards.