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Ronchi pips rivals to prestigious run-scorer prize
Mike Vimpany - 1 September 2002
Luke Ronchi has won the prestigious ECB Southern Electric Premier League batting award after hitting a half-century in Bashley-Rydal's comfortable six-wicket win at Andover.
His 53 ensured he finished the leading run scorer in Premier Division 1 - 28 ahead of Liphook's South African all-rounder Alistair Gray and in front of Damian Shirazi, who finished with a league runners-up medal after BAT surrendered the championship to Havant.
To cap a double celebration for Bashley, Kevin Nash grabbed three Andover wickets to win the August Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month prize.
Nash took 3-33 to take his August wicket tally to 16 and his season's haul to 36 - one more victim than team-mate Matt King achieved last year.
Toby Radford, the former Sussex and Middlesex opener, fought a lone battle for Andover, who dipped from a promising 80-1 to 150-9.
Radford hit a painstaking but nonetheless invaluable 64 - out of 134-7 before he was dismissed - and was the only Andover batsman to master a mean Bashley attack.
Ronchi, on his farewell appearance, took 1-11 off ten overs, while Chris Sketchley (2-23) and Neil Taylor (2-27) dictated terms with the ball as Andover struggled on the low-bounce London Road surface.
Bashley-Rydal lost promoted opener John Whiting and Andy Sexton, but bright and breezy half-centuries by Ronchi (53) and Neil Thurgood (55) swept them to the brink of a six-wicket win.
Thurgood took a distinct liking to Andover spin pair Martin Docis and Gareth Tate, who were hit for a combined total of 74 off 5.3 overs.
Dale Middleton's 22 not out eased Bashley home with 22 overs to spare.
Burridge bade their Premiership farewells, losing by four wickets to South Wilts at Lower Bemerton.
Ironically, former Burridge all-rounder Tom Caines played a major role in their demise, taking 3-34 before hitting a key 60 in the South Wilts run chase.
Only Jo Dixon (25), Paul Hawkins (20) and Paul Ancell (19) made any real impact as Burridge tumbled to 133 all out, Paul Draper (3-21) and Caines sharing six of the wickets.
South Wilts promptly lost two wickets for one run, but Caines (60) steadied the slide and, with help from Colin Moody (22) and Tim Lamb (23), eased the Salisbury club to 134-6.
Portsmouth fielded only three first team regulars as they too dipped to 133 all out (Dean Oliffe 57) at Liphook & Ripsley.
Neil Randall (57) hit his first half-century of the season as Liphook cruised home, with Ali Gray making 43 not out.
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| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |