Sparsholt go through to Ageas final with victory in a nail biting super over.

CALA homes sponsored Sparsholt CC were victorious in a tense semi-final of the SPL T20 plate on Sunday at Locks lane against Premier League Side New Milton. 

Sparsholt lost the toss and were inserted to bat. After losing the early wickets of Tognarelli and Banks, with the score on 23 for 2 off 5 overs, 17-year-old Tom Foster joined Mike Haworth to take the score to 54 before Haworth fell for a stubborn 17. With the game being broadcast on the clubs Facebook page via livestream to supporters in Kenya, South Africa and Australia Foster began to hit boundaries and take to the bowling, Frith fell cheaply and with the score at 71-4 of 14 a competitive total needed something special. A quickfire16 from Sparsholt overseas Ruffell and some excellent placement from Foster brought some more boundaries as Sparsholt managed 120 for 8 from their 20 overs with Foster making 53 not out with 7 fours and 1 six.

New Milton started their reply quickly with Toby Edwards entertaining the now increasingly large crowd with 2 fours and a six off of Ruffell's opening over. With 41 off 4 overs some of the spectators were expecting an early finish. The introduction of young off spinner Nick Doubell brought another 4 and 6 from Edwards before he holed out to Tom Foster for a quick-fire 40. From 69 for 2 off 10 overs Sparsholt fought their way back into the game with some tight bowling from the experienced Jeremy Frith who bowled his 4 overs for 10 runs backed up by an excellent spell of bowling from Tom Foster who took 2 wickets for 14 runs in 3 overs including removing the dangerous Haggerty for 4 well caught by Mike Haworth in the deep. 

With the score 117 for 6 from 19 overs New Milton needed 4 to win from the final over. Ruffell stepped up as the rain started to fall, New Milton batsmen nudged two runs off the first two balls then a dot ball before Raff Hussey was run out by a direct hit from Skeoch off the 4th leaving 2 required from 2 balls. Joe Hall came in and drove the ball firmly in the air to Jeremy Frith leaving New Milton 8 wickets down with 1 ball to score two runs. A leg bye was scampered to leave the scores level with the crowd on the edge of their deckchairs and hammocks, a super over was needed to decide the victors. 

Frith bowled the super over for Sparsholt to Edwards and Park, demonstrating all his experience the miserly Frith kept the New Milton batsmen to 3 from his six balls. Needing 4 to win Tognarelli and T20 Skipper Banks went out to the middle in the now driving rain to face New Milton’s George Watts. Tognarelli in typical style smashed the first ball to the boundary to cheers and celebrations from the supporters.

Club captain Andy Worth was delighted with the result stating “what a great game and advertisement for local cricket, for our players to now progress to the final at the AGEAS bowl is the stuff dreams are made of”.

Sparsholt will play in the Southern Premier League plate final on Sunday 4th September at 11am against Langley Manor.

Sparsholt CC’s victorious T20 side.