This weekend belongs to the 2nd XI, who had a fabulous win away to top-of-the-table Sarisbury 2nd XI, with some good performances from many. The 1st XI, after a record-breaking weekend, came back to earth with a bump, losing at home to Bashley when chasing a modest target. The 3rd XI felt the harsh reality of switching off for the last 15 overs, despite a ton in response from Tom Baines. The 4th XI came up short at home to Dinton.

? Match Summaries
South Wilts 1st XI – 155 all out (36.4 overs) – 6 pts
Bashley 1st XI – 180 all out (35.5 overs) – 19 pts

A day that saw both sides only just bat about half of what they could have saw a fascinating low-scoring game. Having won the toss and with weather forecasts indifferent, Captain Ben Draper decided this week to field first, and at halfway, you thought it was the right call.

Bashley started solidly enough with a 50 opening partnership, before Tom Cheater suddenly found some movement and rhythm, taking the first 4 wickets and suddenly Bashley were 86 for 4, including ex-South Wilts batter Jack Stearman. Tom Cheater would go on to take an impressive 5 for 55, as Bashley kept losing wickets. Matt Falconer also chipped in with a very handy 3 for 25, as Bashley only added 129 more runs, which might have been a lot less if not for the counter-punching hitting from James Trodd (47 from 20 balls), posting 180 all out. On our home deck, that felt like a total we should be able to chase down.

Cricket can be a very old game. Off the back of 189 last week, Harry Broderick this week was greeted with a third-ball duck (0). James Degg, after his 100, soon followed for 15, and at 25 for 2, the recovery plan had to come into action. Yet wickets kept on coming for Bashley. Ben Draper and Matt Falconer briefly locked in for the afternoon, but both fell for 25. At 58 for 6 and 91 for 8, the 1st XI were in real trouble.

Rob Pittman (40*) looked like he might do it, as he and Tom Grant (15) edged us towards the total. Tom fell at 143, leaving just Jasper Blackwood to hold his end, which he had a good go at, but eventually fell at 155 all out, leaving Rob Pittman with no further partners. He was left 40 not out in a disappointing loss.

Next week: Away at Bournemouth 1st XI, 11:00 start

? South Wilts 2nd XI – 258 for 6 (35 overs) – 23 pts
Sarisbury 2nd XI – 228 for 8 (35 overs) – 9 pts

After some heavy rain in the area, this one was a delayed start. Sarisbury, after winning the toss, put the 2nd XI in for a rain-reduced overs game and with the threat of more to come. The only storm that was created was from our batting, which finally clicked. Maybe the freedom of having to play some shots helped?

Yet the start wasn’t as we wanted, as Gabriel Williams, after some fine knocks, got a golden duck (0). But it was then Adam Cutler (51) and young Ivo Leyland (43), with a fine partnership, who took us up to 96 for 2 and laid a platform. Both went quickly within each other, followed by Joe Cranch, and at 114 for 4 it was time for the Ed Rimmer–Tom Pearce show.

They put on another magnificent 130 in only 13.4 overs, at 10 an over, with Ed Rimmer finally out for 69 from 46 balls, and Tom Pearce soon followed, again with a crucial 69 from only 41 balls including 8 fours and 3 sixes, leaving us a very healthy 258 to defend. Indeed, more than we have scored over 50 overs!

After a short break, confidence high, the bowling unit started well, and it was soon Sarisbury in trouble at 43 for 3, with Marc Burton and Matt Anderson-Emm making the early inroads. Then it got very twitchy for a while, as Tom Mills and Michael Bond threatened a comeback to ruin our day. They put on a 139 partnership, with Tom Mills ending with a lovely 116, before crucially, Matt Anderson-Emm had him caught by Kevin Chidrawi.

From then, Sarisbury still needed over 10 an over for the final 5 overs, and wickets kept falling. The 2nd XI wrapped up a superb win at the league leaders as they closed out 30 short of the target, finishing 228 for 8.

Standout bowlers, Marc Burton: 2 for 41, Matt Anderson-Emm: 3 for 40 and Tom Pearce: 2 for 44. A great all-round performance and a vital 23 points. Other results around the league see the 2nd XI come out of the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Next week: Home to Bashley 2nd XI, 12:30 start

? South Wilts 3rd XI – 230 for 7 (45 overs) – 11 pts
Sway 2nd XI – 318 for 9 (50 overs) – 22 pts

A tough day at the office. For the second week running, the 3rd XI were asked to chase over 300 but lessons can be learnt from this one. The last 15 overs proved crucial in this game as attention and enthusiasm dropped off badly. Fielding became very sloppy, catches started to get dropped, and any chirp stopped as the ball started flying to the boundary and beyond all too often - ones became twos and so on.

Skipper Jody Everett was also left with the tricky task of finding overs in the last 15 from young, inexperienced members of this weekend's team when the onslaught started - never easy. At 30 overs, Sway were only 166 for 6, and the team will feel and learn from this one, as it got away, conceding a further 152 in the last 15 at over 10 an over. Harry West, batting at No. 8, hit 71 from only 34 balls.

The returning Sam Burton bowled nicely - 2 for 46 in his first game back. Jody Everett (2 for 33) and Nick Partridge (2 for 55) were also the pick of our bowling.

In reply, our two young openers started with caution. Oliver Wright was first to go, followed by Alexander Vincent, falling to the fatal first ball after drinks. But Tom Baines kept going, watching partners come and go - Nick Partridge, Jacob Rowe (for a tidy 20), and Adam Smith all came and went.

Tom showed great strength through point and backward of square, scoring heavily there, and he carried on through for his first Men's Hampshire League 100 for South Wilts, and a fine knock it was too. He finally fell for a magnificent 101. We hope the first of many, but needless to say, the candle went out on our reply.

We did manage to get full batting points in the defeat, but chasing over 300 is never easy. To get out of the relegation area, we must remain switched on for the full 45 overs.

Next week: Home to Whiteparish 1st XI, 13:00 start

? South Wilts 4th XI – 152 for 9 (40 overs) – 6 pts
Dinton 1st XI – 153 for 2 (26.5 overs) – 23 pts

An experienced side in Dinton were far too strong for our 4th XI this week, but a great showing again from some of the young and upcoming stars of the club, and these experiences will hold them in good stead.

Batting first, it was captain Sean Burke (24) who opened up with young Alfie Yeo, and it was young Alfie who looked solid, with a fine 30 to get us going. He was closely followed by Patrick Hawley, showing great promise with a fine 44. We edged up towards 152 for 9 at the break, so at least had something to bowl at.

But looking at the very experienced Dinton eleven, this looked to be a tall task to defend, and so it proved. Seasoned Andy O’Neill (42) and the still very talented Ben Coombs (29*) didn’t allow us to settle into any rhythm. Supported by Harry Button (41), the game quickly slipped out of our grasp.

There were some good bowling efforts from our young side. It was Jacob Nash with 2 for 33 who grabbed the only two wickets we did take, but in the end a comfortable win for Dinton. We learn, keep the faith, and move on.

Next week: Away to Great Durnford 1st XI, 13:00 start