Bashley end North Baddesley league hopes

Bashley all but ended North Baddesley's hopes of winning the New Forest Indoor Cricket League with a comfortable 4 wicket victory in the latest round of matches at Lymington Sports Centre.

Baddesley totalled 127 for 5 thanks to Steve Williams (41no) and Jon Bance (40), but it wasn't enough to stop Bash who eased home in the penultimate over with Steve Vibert (26no), Neil Taylor (29no) and Simon Dean (24) the main contributors.

Swan Green continued their torrid run with a seventh successive defeat. Only Ben Arnold (30no) and James Terrace (20) put up any resistance as Swan were restricted to 93 for 4 in reply to Esso's impressive 152 for 3. Steve Rice had hit an unbeaten 35 for Esso, while Andy Parratt (30) and Jason Ford (26no) also figured strongly.

Burley are another team in dire straits at present. They were skittled for just 65 in their basement battle with the previously winless Paultons. Although Burley took three wickets, Mark Weaver (17) hung around long enough for Paultons to reach their target in the tenth over.

Milford-on-Sea are nervously looking over their shoulder following their high scoring Division Two encounter with Esso Seconds. Mark Fry (32) and Alan Varley (26) had guided Milford to a creditable 148 with the help of 46 extras. Having lost two early wickets, Esso rebuilt through John Church (28no) and Tony Shelley (44), and in a nailbiting final over, Church and Mike Gulliver (30no) steered Esso home to a 2 wicket victory with just one ball to spare.

There was another tight finish in the Division Three clash between Burley Seconds and Esso Fourths. Les Browning was the star for Burley, scoring an unbeaten 30 and taking 2-17 as his team pipped the Oilmen by just 2 runs in a dramatic last ball finish.

With four weeks of the season still to run, Milford Seconds have already claimed the League's wooden spoon. The unfortunate Seasiders completed their league campaign with a sixth defeat in seven matches which left them rock bottom of the table.

Facing Esso Thirds, it was a familiar story for Milford who once again relied on the experienced Ronny Wilkins for the bulk of their runs. His 26 was the only score in double figures in a total of 79 for 5. Andy McElhenny (26no) and Dean Godden (17no) then put Milford out of their misery as Esso reached their target in the tenth over for the loss of just two wickets.