Saturday 3rd July 2010.

Nailor's record performance marred by batting woes

HANTS REGIONAL 4 (Central)

Hedge End  117   Sway III  109

Sway thirds went into the weekend with high hopes of arresting their recent poor run of form against one of the divisions lowlier sides, but on a dusty wicket there was to be further disappointment with a generally disappointing display – with one notable exception!

Put into bat Hedge End got off to a quick start, with C Nicholls clubbing two fours and a six, but a sharp catch at slip by P Hammett off J Howard (2-45) saw the first wicket down at 14, but this brought M Owton (35) in to join D Doherty (23). What followed was a long a frustrating partnership, all the more so for a lamentable run out attempt. With the score at 87, and with Sway scratching their heads a bit D Steadman (1-17) finally broke the deadlock with the wicket of Doherty. 16-year-old Sam Nailor then took his cue and with the first ball of his second over had Owton caught low at second slip by Steadman. Next ball a high catch was taken by the same fielder. The hat-trick ball was edged along the ground, but the following delivery was gloved to the keeper. The collapse continued, with only thirty more runs added, and with Nailor clean-bowling the next four batsmen with fast inswinging deliveries to finish with figures of 7 for 8 off 6 overs, equalling Sway’s best ever bowling return.

Sway started poorly, but with T Owen (21), D Steadman (15) and A Glasspool (18) nudging the score along to 87-5 a victory still seemed likely. The critical moment came, however, when S Keen was given out caught to a ball clearly grounded by the fielder, and the inexperienced tail subsided disappointingly, with the total finishing nine runs short of the target. Pick of the Hedge End bowlers were C Nicholls (18) and M Owton (3-29), but having topped the table just three weeks ago Sway have now slipped to 8^th with a run of potentially difficult games in the next few weeks