Ton-derful start to new SPL season for Morton
Tom Morton lifted the curtain on a new Southern Premier League season by recording his 30th league century.
The former South Wilts star struck 109 as Sarisbury defeated Rowledge by 59 runs at Allotment Road.
Rowledge must have fancied their chances when they won the toss in the Division 1 fixture and inserted their hosts.
But Morton and Australian SPL debutant Kaiden Cookson (34) put on 79 for the first Sarisbury wicket, before Jack Robson (38) helped Morton add a further 96 for the second.
Morton was recording his third league ton for Sarisbury in just eight innings after switching from South Wilts last June.
While most of his league centuries were scored for the Salisbury-based club, Morton’s highest league score remains his 232 playing for Ealing in a Middlesex Premier League match against Teddington in 2016.
Nathan Felham, promoted to No 4 and never one to score slowly, belted 54 off 38 balls, adding 58 for the fifth wicket with Cameron Grierson as Sarisbury closed on 257-7 in 50 overs.
Spinners Cookson and skipper Rob Franklin shared six wickets as Rowledge were bowled out for 198.
Five Rowledge players reached 20, but Ollie Baker’s 37 was their highest score.
Left-armer Cookson claimed 3-39 while right-armer Franklin, bringing himself into the attack as the sixth bowler used, took 3-31 off eight overs.
Sarisbury travel to OTS & Romsey this weekend, with their hosts having suffered a 58-run defeat to Portsmouth & St Helens last Saturday.
Newly-promoted Waterlooville’s trip to the Isle of Wight to play Ventnor was cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.