SALISBURY Lions the South Wilts T20 side lost at Hampshire Academy in the T20 Plate by seven wickets, writes ROY HONEYBONE.

South Wilts won the toss and opted to bat first. Tom Morton 23 got them off to a quick start with the ball dispatched onto the golf course next to the Ageas Bowl Nursery twice in one over.

They lost momentum after Morton’s departure despite 12 from Ben Draper and 18 from Rob Pittman.

It was not until Luke Hansford, 26 from 20 balls and Ryan Murray, 26 from 16 balls got together that they were able to push the score on.

The innings closed on 121-6 with the Hansford/Murray partnership providing 58 of those runs in good time.

The Academy had their own problems in the early stages with Rob Pittman claiming an early wicket and then Ryan Murray picking up two wickets to leave the Academy on 28-3, when South Wilts had been 33-3.

However, this brought Fletcha Middleton (68 not out) and George Metzger (37 not out) together and their unbroken partnership of exactly 100 saw the Academy home with 12 balls to spare.