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Comment

Stuart Charman

ST CROSS Symondians pulled off arguably the most astonishing result in ECB Southern Electric Premier League history when they beat Bournemouth by nine runs at the Royal Green Jackets Ground - having been bowled out for 53!

Undeterred, they hit back to skittle Bournemouth for an all-time Premier League low of 44.

Hampshire's Jimmy Adams, who skippered St Cross, described the match "as the most remarkable I've ever played in."

"Everyone, I'm sure, will look at the scores and say it was due to the pitch, but for all 20 wickets to fall for just 97 runs was quite bizarre.

"It definitely wasn't a 53/44 wicket at all - may be 120/90 - and a lot of the dismissals were down to poor shot selection, rather than anything to do with the pitch.

"Yes, it was damp. Of course it was after all the rain we've had and the ball seamed about, but it was just one of those games - one no one who played in it will ever forget."

The scheduled all-day time pennant match began an hour late after an early Friday evening rain storm had topped up the water level from the monsoon-like conditions that swept through the region two days earlier.

"We could easily have called the game off, but a lot of effort went into getting the pitch playable and both teams wanted to play - so we gave it a go," Adams said.

St Cross probably regretted that decision when teenage duo Ed Denham (2-15) and left-armer David Payne began to make inroads into their batting.

Adams saw Archie Fellowes (2) depart quickly and soon had his defences breached by the promising Payne, who has signed a Gloucestershire Academy contract.

St Cross dropped from 16-1 to 24-6, with Payne taking 4-25.

Simon Ridley (3-13) made his mark too as St Cross lurched to 34-8 and, thanks to Steve Fryer's 14 at the end, an eventual 53 all out in 29.3 overs.

But if Bournemouth thought the outcome was done and dusted, they were sadly mistaken They progressed to 12-0 without too many alarms, but when Adams caught Joe Cranch to give leftarmer Fryer the first of his two wickets, the wheels began to fall off.

Darren Cowley was trapped leg before (15-2), then Fryer (2-9) had James Park caught (16-3).

Before Bournemouth knew where they were, Jack Wells (10) had been caught behind by Charlie Cooke and skipper Craig de Weymarn shouldered arms and was bowled first ball by Stuart Charman (3-16).

Bournemouth were 20-5 - and in serious trouble.

Vice-captain Nick Park, who later described some of Bournemouth's batting as "brainless", at least steadied the ship, adding 14 with Simon Watkins.

When South African Will Motaung (2-8) whisked out Watkins and Simon Ridley in quick succession, Bournemouth sank deeper into the dire at 35-8 - and were headed for the lowest Premier League score on record.

Relegated to five in the order, Park (15) and Ed Denham took Bournemouth on to 44-8.

But the vice-skipper eventually fell to the off-spin of Matt Perry- Lewis (2-9) and Payne, with the score still on 44, was run out.

Park was generous in his praise for the St Cross bowlers, but furious with the way Bournemouth batted.

"I agree with Jimmy (Adams), it was a 120-90 pitch, but to their credit, St Cross bowled full and well on a damp surface that obviously was helpful to the seamers.

"But we've once again shot ourselves in the foot.

"How many times recently have we been in the (title) chase at this stage of the season and gone and produced a performance like this ?" he seethed.

Hursley Park paid the penalty for allowing Andover to escape from a perilous 28-5 and claim a 35-run victory at The Quarters.

It looked all up for the visitors when teenager Darryl Steele and Derek Manning (2-37) ripped out Andover's top order.

But Cille van der Merwe (25) and Ali Hooper led a spirited fightback - their 60-run stand turning the balance of the match.

Hooper's 47 proved a real match winner as he and Richard Taylor (23) eased Andover towards a comfortable 144 before Steele returned to finish with best-yet 5-38 SPL figures.

Hursley Park's reply went from 39-1 (Philip Hughes 22) to 64-8 - newcomer Alex Garman taking 3-28 and Roger Miller (4-33) slicing open the middle-order.

Only Manning (18 not out) late on stayed around to give Hursley's 109 any substance.

8:59am Thursday 17th July 2008

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