ST CROSS have their eyes set on winning the Southern Premier League title after clinching the Time Pennant flag with a crushing 195-run winy over depleted Bashley.

They are hot on the heels of leaders South Wilts and their head-to-head meeting at Bemerton on August 18 may well be a championship decider.

Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams led the way, scoring 148 as St Cross racked up 328 for three declared before bowling out Bashley for 133.

The former Hampshire skipper hit 22 fours and three sixes, dominating a double-century opening partnership with Billy Mead (73).

Bashley lost teenage debutant Sammy Laurent, who suffered a broken right hand after being struck by one of Adams’s drives fairly early in the morning session.

His absence stretched Bashley’s already threadbare bowling options but the visitors only had to field for 50 overs before Tom Foyle declared.

Fielding only five recognised first-team regulars, Bashley slumped to 23 for four before Michael Porter (24) and Tom Jacques (54) kept St Cross at bay.

But having inched their way into the 90s, Bashley promptly lost three wickets in quick succession, two of them to Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland.

Ross Grierson (21) staged a late rally, but Adams had the final say, picking up the wicket of Patrick Lewis, bowling left-arm spin.