Havant crowned Southern champions

Havant celebrate 2008 Southern Electric title

Havant clinched a second consecutive ECB Southern Electric Premier League title with a crushing eight-wicket win over Totton & Eling at Southern Gardens.

It was their 12th win in 16 outings - they drew four in the mid-season Time Pennant matches - and ensured that, with one match to go, they remained unbeaten for 2008.

Totton's line up was almost unrecognisable from the one that began the season, with only five regular first teamers on parade.

Skipper Richard Dibden, in an unfamiliar opener's role, carried his bat throughout the Totton innings, completing his 51 not out just before Laurie Prittipaul (2-22) finally bowled them out for 124.

Totton had collapsed from 62-1 against the left-arm spin of evergreen Phil Loat (4-32), while skipper Richard Hindley produced a typically miserly 1-15 return off his ten overs.

Even though Steve Dean perished for a duck, Havant cruised home, with Ben Walker (52 not out) and Prittipaul (57) completing half-centuries before the championship was clinched.

At the other end of the table, Bashley (Rydal) are facing relegation. If they lose their final match against in-form Alton and Hursley Park beat Totton & Eling next Saturday, they will go down.

The under-performing New Forest club, without a win since late June when, ironically, they won at Alton, crashed to a tenth defeat of the season at Andover.

They were beaten by five wickets with four overs to spare after posting 188 for five in their 50 overs. All four of Bashley’s top order scored runs – Chris Jones (33) and Glyn Treagus (30) providing a 66-run start.

Andy Sexton (48) and Neil Thurgood (30) pushed the total on to 188-5 (Mark Miller 3-41) – but it wasn’t enough. Ali Hooper (27) and Mark Miller (27) provided the half-century platform from which South African teenager Uwe Birkenstock’s unbeaten 68 effectively won the match.

Max Waller (2-25) and Andy Neal (2-36) caused a mid-innings wobble, but Roger Miller (34) provided Birkenstock with timely support as Andover cruised home.

Alton’s 18-run win over runners-up South Wilts - which puts the North Hants club 16 points of the bottom – dropped Bashley deeper into trouble.

Comfortably poised at 83 for two through Michael Heffernan (32) and Marc-Antony Eyseie (23), Alton shuddered against Rob Wade (2-21), dropping to 91 for five and later 114 for six.

James Hayward (3-37) created inroads, while 14-year old left-arm seam prospect James Haggaty claimed his debut Premier League wicket when he trapped Howard Gadsby (23) leg before wicket.

But Alton’s tail wagged furiously, with Julian Ballinger, Alex Hughes and Tabs Farooq adding a vital 44 runs for the last two wickets.

South Wilts’ bid to overhaul Alton’s 171 went in fits and starts, but was well placed at 64 for two (Tom Morton 29).
Hayward (41) kept South Wilts’ flame alight, but the innings began to stutter from 128 for four onwards when Scott Myers (4-32) returned for his second spell to bowl in tandem with Farooq (3-11).

The pair sent South Wilts’ last six wickets tumbling for 25 runs and set up an 18-run victory which should seal Alton’s Premier League status.

Hursley Park completed a 76-run win over St Cross Symondians to rekindle their dreams of hanging on in the top division with 16 points between them and bottom placed Bashley (Rydal).

Everything will now hinge on next Saturday’s final round of games, when Bashley host Alton and Totton & Eling visits The Quarters.

Their success over a much weakened St Cross Symondians revolved around a defiant half-century by Hampshire Under-17s batsman Philip Hughes (56).

Aided by a plethora of 47 extras – St Cross sent down 34 wides – and a handy late knock from Matt Branford (24), Hursley totalled 175 all out.

St Cross were seldom in the picture and caved in against some fine spin bowling by left-armer Thara Perera, who returned 2-13 in ten overs, and Ollie Green, whose 3-16 spell nipped out several of the middle-order. Torqueer Iqbal (2-17) made his presence felt as St Cross nosedived to 99 all out.

The Hampshire Academy lost two wickets without a run on the board and their first three for just one run against Bournemouth at Chapel gate.

Ed Denham (2-21) nipped out both Benny Howell (0) and James Vince (0), while Gloucestershire prospect David Payne (2-35) cleaned up Michael Bates.

Hamza Riazuddin (49) and Adam Rouse, with a splendid 72, led the recovery, but Pete Smith (3-32) created inroads to lave the Young Hawks stranded on 151-8.

Bournemouth quickly lost Jack Wells to left-armer Jack Wells. But the Park brothers, James (31) and Nick, with a season’s best 60, virtually guaranteed a five-wicket Bournemouth victory. Riazuddin (3-23) created a wobble of sorts, but Martin Miller’s 24 not out guided Bournemouth home.