St.Cross join the three unbeaten starts at Rose Bowl

St Cross Symondians are off to a flier in the newly sponsored NatWest Bank Hampshire Development Youth Indoor Cricket competition at the Rose Bowl.

They collected 22 points for winning both of their opening Under-16 games at the Hampshire Rose Bowl to launch an early challenge to Fair Oak and BAT Sports at the top of the table.

St Cross beat Havant by two wickets before outplaying South Wilts and chalking up a comprehensive five-wicket victory.

Joe Lovett twice produced two-wicket spells of left-arm spin, his 2-20 return helping to restrict Havant to 102-4, of which opener Chris Wade struck an unbeaten 25.

St Cross batted consistently to win with an over to spare, James Burridge hitting a key 22 not out after the top four batsmen had all got into double figures.

The Winchester club had it far easier against South Wilts, Joe Lovett (2-6) and Burridge (2-11) combining to bowl the Salisbury club out for 80 - a great disappointment after 53 runs were scored before the first wicket fell.

It was all too easy for St Cross, who powered home on the strength of Jack Lovett's 29 not out.

Havant, narrowly beaten by St Cross, whipped South Wilts by 56 runs after Nick Hardaker (27) had top scored in a demanding 127-2 total.

South Wilts again began well through Paul Roszowski (30) and left-hander Eddie Able (26), but collapsed against three-wicket Ed Molyneaux (3-23).

Results -
Havant (1) 102-4 (Wade 25, Joe Lovett 2-20)
St Cross Symondians (11) 103-4 (Burridge 22, Postle 17)
St Cross Symondians won by two wickets

South Wilts (0) 80 (Roszowski 17, Bale 15, Joe Lovett 2-6, Burridge 2-11)
St Cross Symondians (11) 81-1 (Jack Lovett 29)
St Cross Symondians won by 5 wickets

Havant (12) 127-2 (Hardaker 27, Wade 15, Morgan 15)
South Wilts (0) 71 (Roszowski 30, Able 26, Molyneaux 3-23)
Havant won by 56 runs

Andover's clash against unbeaten Fair Oak is the highspot of next Sunday's NatWest League games at the Rose Bowl.

Fixtures -
6pm : Fair Oak v Havant, 7pm : Andover v Fair Oak, 8pm : Havant v Andover.