FURIOUS Andy Sexton has told his misfiring Bashley (Rydal) players they need to lift their level of performance by 30 per cent or more if they are to make a fist of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League this season.

Sexton was seething after Bashley had been thrashed by seven wickets by champions Totton & Eling - their third defeat in six outings.

The former Hampshire left-hander, who took over the Bashley reins last season, laid into his players after "they rolled over and died" against the Southampton powermen.

Bashley slipped from a promising 74-1 to 181 all out and were resoundingly beaten in fewer than 32 overs.

"We got hammered because we were so poor and allowed Totton to look good," said Sexton.

"We've got some quality players in our changing room, but they are not performing on the pitch, either batting or bowling," he fumed.

Sexton didn't excuse himself from the criticism.

"Virtually all the top order, including myself, made starts against Totton - but apart from Glyn (Treagus) and Dan (Friedman), no one went on to make a score."

Sexton told his players he wants to see a far more determined approach at training and in Thursday night's Electric Cup opener against neighbours New Milton.

"Our season is already at the crossroads and we need to start putting some performances together pretty quickly," he stressed.

Ironically, Bashley got away to a promising start against Totton and were 40 without loss after 10 overs, when Neil Thurgood nicked a sharp rising delivery from James Hibberd behind.

Sexton (22) tucked into a loose opening over from Adam Sharp (2-56), but at 74-1 picked out a diving Derek Kenway at extra-cover.

Teenager Chris Jones seemed to nick one on to his pads only to be trapped leg before.

From that point on, Bashley lost direction.

Dorset's Glyn Treagus (43) remained solid, but the Banks/Hibberd partnership was in full swing and at 82-4, he became the second of four caught behind' victims.

The pitch was helpful to both batsmen and bowler, but only South African Dan Friedman, who is beginning to look a useful Bashley asset, prospered on it.

He went for his shots, striking 10 fours in a purposeful 62 - but got precious little support from the other end.

Hibberd (4-54) took the credits before off-spinner Richard Dibden (2-29) brought Bashley's innings to a close for 181.

Any fading hopes Bashley had of defending a relatively modest total disappeared in a brutal and savage Lee Savident (45) boundary barrage at the top of the Totton & Eling reply.

The tall Channel Islander unleashed a blistering assault on James Manning, smashing him for EIGHT successive fours - immediately after being missed off a difficult leg-side chance.

Savident's powerful straight and cover driving put 63 runs on the board in no time at all - and from then on, the outcome was inevitable.

The run gush continued a pace with Kenway (63) oozing class in adding 95 with Damian Shirazi (42).