OTs & Romsey's second team made hard work of this trip to bottom of the table Hayling Island, winning the game by just one wicket.
On an overcast day Romsey lost the toss and had to bowl first. Usually unaffected by this, Romsey didn’t start very well with the two usual good opening bowlers bowling all over the place; after the first six overs Hayling Island were 63 for 0. The captain had to chance things up, and on came the spin attack with Matt Bampton (2-36) taking a wicket with his first ball. However, he should have had another wicket in the same over as the Hayling Captain apparently edged the ball to the keeper - the umpire didn’t budge! Experienced spinner Max Smith (2-20) frustrated the Hayling batsman - they didn’t know how to deal with him. The Hayling Island batsmen hung in there and it wasn’t until Welch produced a good run out that Romsey started to control the game. Once five wickets had been taken, the Hayling Batsman didn’t offer much with the two opening bowlers Joe Welch (1-48), Steve Kay (3-40) coming back into the attack. Welch finally dismissing the controversial Hayling Captain. Dan Collins (1-9) came into the attack and Romsey restricted Hayling to 197.
In the second innings Romsey didn’t get off the best of starts when Elliott Mitchell-Lee(4) was caught out early on. However, fellow opener Max Smith (40) continued his good form by keeping Romsey above the run rate. With Romsey going well things quickly changed when Smith was caught and Nic Destfanao following quickly following suit. Hayling were back into the game. Although Romsey's new Batsmen were keeping above the run rate, nobody really "got in". With Romsey's Batsmen falling left, right and centre Captain - Mike Trodd (36*) - had to play a very patient innings. However, batsmen continued to fall cheaply, and it wasn’t in until Phil Wyatt (6*) came to the crease that Trodd finally found some stability at the other end. With 10 overs to go Romsey only required 10 runs to win. On the other hand it would only take one ball for Hayling to take the win. Captain Mike Trodd showed his resilience; when Romsey needed four to win he smashed it over extra cover to record a great win for the promotion chasers.
On an overcast day Romsey lost the toss and had to bowl first. Usually unaffected by this, Romsey didn’t start very well with the two usual good opening bowlers bowling all over the place; after the first six overs Hayling Island were 63 for 0. The captain had to chance things up, and on came the spin attack with Matt Bampton (2-36) taking a wicket with his first ball. However, he should have had another wicket in the same over as the Hayling Captain apparently edged the ball to the keeper - the umpire didn’t budge! Experienced spinner Max Smith (2-20) frustrated the Hayling batsman - they didn’t know how to deal with him. The Hayling Island batsmen hung in there and it wasn’t until Welch produced a good run out that Romsey started to control the game. Once five wickets had been taken, the Hayling Batsman didn’t offer much with the two opening bowlers Joe Welch (1-48), Steve Kay (3-40) coming back into the attack. Welch finally dismissing the controversial Hayling Captain. Dan Collins (1-9) came into the attack and Romsey restricted Hayling to 197.
In the second innings Romsey didn’t get off the best of starts when Elliott Mitchell-Lee(4) was caught out early on. However, fellow opener Max Smith (40) continued his good form by keeping Romsey above the run rate. With Romsey going well things quickly changed when Smith was caught and Nic Destfanao following quickly following suit. Hayling were back into the game. Although Romsey's new Batsmen were keeping above the run rate, nobody really "got in". With Romsey's Batsmen falling left, right and centre Captain - Mike Trodd (36*) - had to play a very patient innings. However, batsmen continued to fall cheaply, and it wasn’t in until Phil Wyatt (6*) came to the crease that Trodd finally found some stability at the other end. With 10 overs to go Romsey only required 10 runs to win. On the other hand it would only take one ball for Hayling to take the win. Captain Mike Trodd showed his resilience; when Romsey needed four to win he smashed it over extra cover to record a great win for the promotion chasers.