RD2SW: Bashley IV 126-6, Sway 130-1. Sway won by 9 wickets

Sway recorded their second victory in succession on the Bashley plastic to produce a convincing 9 wicket victory. Sway lost the toss and Bashley elected to bat first, however Bashley soon struggled against the pace and accuracy of Jon Grasham and Jack Walton and it was no surprise when in the 5th over Grasham induced and edge that was caught low at second slip by Dave Marshall when the score was just 2. At the other end Jack Walton was on top form, producing arguably the best ever bowling performance for Sway. The Bashley batsmen found it impossible to deal with his pace and movement and after three maidens, Walton followed these up with two wicket maidens first getting no.3 P Conway and then no.4 J Ransom caught behind by Adam Clark.  Then in his 6th over he trapped the other Bashley opener plum LBW. Walton went on to record outstanding bowling figures of 10-8-3-3 - going for just 3 runs, not a single one of which was off the bat! In dire straights at 18-4 Bashley could have done with the wizardry of locals messrs Isley and Knopfler however their plight worsened still further when Steve Thisleton produced a peach of a delivery to bowl S. Scott, and then had N Nineham well caught by Alex Hall in the covers to leave Bashley on 32-6. Bashley finally steadied the ship with a fine partnership of 88 between G Bettle (58*) and A Kerr (38*) but it was slow progress and they eventually set Sway a target 127 to win off 42 overs.

If Bashley were to have any hope of winning the game they would have to taken early wickets and take all their chances. Although Sway opener Adam  Clark was dismissed mistiming a pull with the score on 13, both fellow opener Alex Hall and number 3 Nilantha Atapattu were dropped early in their innings - and Bashley were fully punished for their errors. The pair put on 117 together with an entertaining  array of powerful shots. Hall quickly brought up his half century on his way to an unbeaten 65 and Atapattu reached his fifty in fine style hitting a huge six out of the ground to seal the win.

With Brockenhurst losing a the weekend, it would seem that the the race for 3rd place and possible promotion is a straight fight between Sway and Ellingham. With Ellingham facing league leaders Burley next Saturday, Sway must be the favourites on paper....