BASHLEY hopped above rivals Lymington in the Southern Premier League standings courtesy of a routine six-wicket victory over Hampshire Academy.

Early wickets taken by Kevin Nash and Andrew Neal saw the visitors in trouble at six for two at BCG, but Will Arnold (32) and Ben Caldera (26) steadied matters.

Academy skipper Andy Gorvin then entered the fray and hit |

an unbeaten 56, ably assisted by Brad Taylor (39).

Although Gorvin soldiered on, his batting partners did not have so much success and Ross Grierson and Neal mopped up the tail to dismiss Academy for 188 in the final over.

Neal ended with figures of three for 38 while Sam Thomson took two for 32 and Grierson two for 46.

The home side’s reply suffered an early body blow when veteran Neil Thurgood was bowled for a duck by Ryan Murray.

However, Nick Baker made a patient 72 and Michael Porter’s 25 helped matters along.

Captain Richard Morris and Jaron Morgan had plenty of work to do when they arrived at the crease but excellent unbeaten knocks of 38 and 44 respectively saw Bashley reach their target in the 43rd over.

Elsewhere, Lymington suffered a five-wicket defeat at Havant.

Damien Mortimer (59) and Ryan Scott (44) provided the heaviest knocks of the visitors’ innings of 159. Steven Matthews and Richard Hindley were the scourge of the visiting batsmen with figures of three for 16 and three for 19 respectively.

Havant reached the target in the 35th over thanks in the main to Ben Walker (47), Robert Gibson (39) and Chris Morgan (44).

Paul McCann took three for 14 in four blistering overs for the visitors, while Darren Cowley claimed two for 40.