15-07-2025
Prolific openers share record-breaking 308 for South Wilts
Harry Broderick hit a 'responsible' career-best 182 and shared a new treble hundred ECB Southern Premier Division partnership record with fellow opener James Degg as South Wilts emerged with a 'winning draw' from their visit to Portsmouth, writes Mike Vimpany.
The pair plundered 308 for the first wicket on a batting-friendly Southsea seafront surface, Degg hitting 131 as South Wilts posted a league record 417-6.
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Portsmouth replied with 303-5, creating a record aggregate of 720 runs, 458 of them coming in boundary hits.
There was seldom any likelihood of a positive result from the 120-over run fest, save South Wilts' 15-points haul lifting them 12 clear of Bournemouth at the foot of the table.
Bournemouth lost by six wickets to table toppers Lymington, while Basingstoke & North Hants clung on for a draw at St Cross Symondians.
Opening up is a relatively new venture for Broderick, who admitted that he had been told by some of the South Wilts elders to take more responsibility by going in first.
"We've struggled all season and losing key players recently hasn't helped, so it was time to do my bit and get some runs under my belt," said Broderick, who is training to become a carpenter by trade.
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"It worked out pretty well.
"Scoring more than 400 will give the dressing room a boost and my form with it.
"I've made plenty of starts, but it was back in 2021 that I last made a hundred, playing for the Hampshire Academy against Alton.
"That was a long time ago, so I needed this."
Broderick's 182 contained four sixes and 28 fours, one of his straight hits sailing over the perimeter fence at St Helen's and providing a souvenir front door dent in a vehicle whose owner drove off unaware of the damage.
Degg's 131, which included 17 fours, was his first hundred for South Wilts but not a maiden one in ECB Premier League cricket, where he previously notched tons playing for Plymouth and Three Bridges.
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Ben Draper helped himself to an unbeaten 43 and Tristan Francis (27) added to Portsmouth's agony as South Wilts advanced speedily past 400.
Henry Woolf (6-89) took all six South Wilts wickets to fall, his figures complemented by some excellent outfield catching.
With former Bangladesh Test captain Mohamad Ashraful managing the Rangpur Riders side in the Global Super League in Guyana and opener Carlin Joy still injured, Portsmouth's batting armoury was depleted and when left-armer Tom Grant bowled lead SPL run scorer Ben Duggan cheaply, all bets were off in terms of a positive result.
Portsmouth skipper Dan Wimble didn't let a batting opportunity pass him by and tucked into South Wilts' less than potent bowling attack with relish, striking a six and 26 fours in a career-best 145 not out.
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It was his third SPL century, previous ones coming against New Milton two seasons and for Fareham & Crofton back in 2021.
The match predictably lost all meaning as Portsmouth banked as many batting bonus points as they could, Draper calling upon nine bowlers (including himself) as Sujee Daini (57) and the Gadd brothers boosted their batting averages.
