Harry Broderick powered a boundary-strewn 78 off 50 deliveries to lead a successful South Wilts run chase against ECB Southern Premier League title favourites St Cross Symondians at Winchester’s tree-lined Green Jackets ground.
He cleared the boundary rope five times and struck eight other fours before being adjudged lbw at 134-3, with South Wilts still 80 runs short of overhauling a St Cross total of 217.
But unlike a week earlier when South Wilts bungled a similar run chase against Bournemouth, the Bemerton middle-order dug in and got the side home by three wickets with almost eight overs to spare.
Broderick said: “I had a fire in my belly at St Cross as I was still annoyed about the way we lost to Bournemouth, so I got really stuck in. I was pleased with the way I struck the ball and felt good for a big one, especially with so much time to spare.”
Broderick’s 78 was the second “special” innings of the match – Gregor McKenzie lighting up the afternoon session with a brutal 82, five big sixes and seven boundaries, 58 of his runs crossing the rope.
McKenzie lost two early partners before sharing an all left-hand 90-run stand with Charlie Gwynn (40), the latter playing some flowing shots before feathering a catch behind to Ben Draper.
McKenzie continued to go aerial and added more useful runs with former Lymington and Warminster gloveman Gareth Shreuder (36) before holing out to Broderick in the deep.
The scoring was so quick it seemed St Cross might get 300. Instead, they collapsed with three wickets falling for seven runs and, as South Wilts took the pace off the ball, Archie Fairfax-Ross (3-17) and James Degg (2-30) closed the innings at 217, with two overs still to be bowled.
Harry Trussler and Joe Lovett struck some late lusty blows, but how competitive a score of 217 was remained to be seen.
Tom Cheater and Degg made starts as South Wilts made a breezy response, but Broderick got to the crease early and soon dominated. He added 77 with Matt Falconer of which the young left-hander made 16.
Broderick looked capable of winning the match single-handedly as he powered 62 of his 78 runs in boundaries. He departed at 134-3 to leave South Wilts middle-order vulnerable but, though several of the later batsmen surrendered their wickets, Draper and Ben Howgrave-Graham made key runs as the target was chased down.
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