SKIPPER Martin Miller hailed Brad Schmulian “a major player” after the South African all-rounder had led Bournemouth to a convincing 70-run win over Division One rivals Fawley.

Lions’ overseas star cracked 82 off 86 balls as the visitors recorded a season’s-best 247 for seven from their 50 overs on the Waterside.

Leg-spinner Schmulian (5-25) then starred with the ball, his exploits prompting a middle-order collapse which saw Fawley crumble from 104 for two to 156 for nine before eventually closing on 177 for nine.

Schmulian, 23, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 120 with Miller (43) after Ben Bridgen (37) and Andy Hayward (18) had put on 61 for the first wicket, with Mike Kitson (28) also chipping in.

Miller told the Daily Echo: “Brad is a fantastic guy and we are very pleased with him as our overseas player this year. He is a competitor and, when you throw the ball to him, you know he will come up with the goods.

“He got hit about a bit in our first game at Liphook but was still feeling his way in English conditions. Since then, he has really shone with the ball.

“You tend to associate leg-spinners with getting hit but he has self-control. He is capable of taking wickets and containing. He is a top bowler.”

Miller, who saw Bournemouth pass the 200-mark for only the second time this season, added: “We finally put some partnerships in place and that really set us up.

“Our score was probably par but it was one I was very pleased with because it gave us the ability to defend when we needed to.

“We dropped a few catches which was disappointing but, because we had runs on the board, our attack is very good at containing and finished the job.”

SCORECARD

BOURNEMOUTH INNINGS

B Bridgen c Parratt b Turriff-Smith 37

A Hayward lbw b Royan 18

M Kitson b Cole 28

B Schmulian c Turriff-Smith b Woolgar 82

M Miller st Earl b Royan 43

J Hurley c Turriff-Smith b Woolgar 2

JP Cronje b Royan 0

L Matthews not out 10

M Jones not out 12

Extras (4lb, 6w, 5nb) 15

Total: (for 7 wkts, 50 overs) 247

Did not bat: A Singh, R Pack.

Fall: 61, 85, 97, 217, 220, 222, 227.

Bowling: Woolgar 10-1-44-2, Godden 10-2-37-0, Turriff-Smith 10-0-41-1, Royan 10-0-59-3, Cole 10-0-62-1.

FAWLEY INNINGS

T Gates c and b Hurley 38

P Marks c Miller b Singh 1

R Leach c Pack b Schmulian 21

A Parratt run out 39

C Earl c Miller b Schmulian 2

K Earl b Schmulian 8

A Cole lbw b Schmulian 0

W Royan c Hurley b Schmulian 9

E Turriff-Smith c Kitson b Pack 6

J Woolgar not out 14

D Godden not out 5

Extras (5lb, 25w, 4nb) 34

Total: (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 177

Fall: 41, 70, 104, 108, 131, 131, 147, 156, 156.

Bowling: Kitson 4-0-23-0, Jones 8-1-30-0, Singh 8-1-13-1, Hurley 7-0-38-1, Schmulian 10-3-25-5, Pack 10-1-36-1, Cronje 3-0-7-0.

  • AN opening stand of 90 between Nick Park and Mark House paved the way for New Milton to maintain their 100 per cent winning start in Division One.

Park (55) and House (38) laid the foundations for the Greens & Golds to record a three-wicket victory over Andover at Fernhill, their seventh win on the trot.

Nick Gargaro (2-16) and George Watts (2-26) returned economical figures from their 10-over spells as the visitors posted 167 for seven, the pair claiming between them danger men Glyn Treagus and Dave Taylor.

Although New Milton looked far from comfortable at 130 for seven after Park and House had both departed, an unbroken stand of 39 between Gargaro (20) and Dan Loader (16) saw them home with 16 balls to spare.