Swanage's Nash and Lewis impress with partnership in defeat to Hamworthy

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3 hours ago

ON SATURDAY, the Swanage 2ndXI travelled to Hamworthy for their latest Division 4 encounter.
After losing the toss and being put into bat, the visitor's opening-pair of Mike Nash & John Lewis were determined to 'lay' a sound foundation to enable the middle-order to flourish later in the innings.
They were able to do this by mixing solid defence with some ferocious drives and pull-shots - together they constructed a brilliant 120-run partnership, until in the 22nd over, Lewis was caught in the outfield attempting his ninth boundary for an excellent 48.
Despite losing another wicket straight away, the momentum of the innings was maintained when the in-form Sid Nash joined Mike and they both continued to bat in a positive fashion. Mike was finally dismissed trying to hit his second maximum (to go along with his other 10 boundaries) for 77.
Despite the fact wickets continued to fall, Sid batted very belligerently and, fittingly brought up his second consecutive half-century, with a 'towering' six into the pavilion. He was eventually dismissed off the final ball of the innings going for his 11th boundary for 66 off just 55 balls, but had enabled the visitors to reach the respectable total of 236-6 from their 40 overs.
The hosts got-off to truly remarkable start, with their 'star' batsman reaching a half-century in just the 5th over. He continued to bat in this very aggressive manner reaching a quite simply astonishing century in only the 15th over.
He was finally dismissed for a staggering 141 off just 74 balls - his remarkable innings included 26 boundaries and allowed the hosts to complete a convincing nine-wicket victory in just the 27th over.
Despite this defeat, the visitors remain in third place in an incredibly competitive division and are still within touching distance of the top two.
Also on Saturday, the 3rdXI continued their 'fight' against relegation in Division 5 when they hosted Wimborne 4thXI on the Nursery ground at Days Park. The visited batted first and, although Paul Knight - claimed 4 wickets and Tim Ives & Sam Willcocks claimed 3 and 2 wickets respectively the visitors managed to reach 237 before they were bowled-out.
In reply, the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals and, although, David Alcock made 38 were in the very precarious position of 110-7 when he was dismissed. This brought together Geoff Willcocks & Matt.
Dunster - who changed the complexion of the game completely with an unbelievable 108-run partnership in only 16 overs. Willcocks struck 11 boundaries (and lost 3 balls in the process) as he 'smashed' 67 off just 52 balls.
He was ably supported by Dunster - who made an enterprising 31. However, there was still more nail-biting drama to come because as they were both removed in the same over to leave the hosts 219-9.
As the game entered the last over - the hosts still needed 14 runs, they were indebted to Knight who struck two of the last four balls of the match to the boundary to secure a remarkable win for Dunster's side (to move them out of the relegation places).
As well as that, the 1stXI played host to Martinstown in Premier Division 2. The hosts batted first and despite another half-century by the in-form Tom Wells (59) and some resistance from the lower-order of Nick Pestana, Freddie Long & Steve Ramsay, the hosts never recovered from 131-6 and were 'shot-out' for just 185.
In reply, the visitors had few-alarms in reaching their target and, although Matt. Beard took two wickets in an-over - they completed a comfortable four-wicket victory. This defeat still leaves the hosts in a secure mid-table position.