   |
|
Home 2003 Season 2002 Season News Photo Gallery Club Directory Umpires SPCL Umpire Appointments Rules/ Accreditation Officials SEC Cup Awards Statistics Links |
|
|
Southern Premier League Division 1 - Week 15 Report
Mike Vimpany - 12 August 2000
Havant's ECB Southern Premier League match at Cove was abandoned after 28 overs because of a potentially dangerous and unfit Grasmere Road pitch unfit.
Umpires Roy Harrison and Stuart Mason called a halt to play after the Havant batsmen had repeatedly been struck by balls rearing up off the dry, used surface.
"The bounce was highly irregular, with the top coming off the surface," explained Havant captain Paul Gover.
"One delivery from spinner Joe Ashton hit the pitch and flew over the wicketkeeper's head."
"It was not fit to continue the game and the umpires were correct in making the decision to abandon play when they did."
Havant had made 71-3 when play was halted after just less than two hours play.
But batsman Dominic Carson had been taken to hospital with a suspected broken finger after being struct on the glove.
A Cove spokesman confirmed that the Farnborough club had prepared, but not properly watered, a previously used strip.
Ironically, Cove's normally shirt-front strip had received high marks from previous visiting Premier League captains and umpires this season.
The 'no result' has left Havant are within 16 points of becoming inaugural ECB SOuthern Premier League champions.
Their prospects were boosted with B.A.T.Sports, Bashley (Rydal), Andover and Hungerford all suffering defeats.
Second-placed B.A.T.Sports scored 195-8 against South Wilts, who followed up their victory over Havant with a seven-wicket victory.
Left-armer Jim Tomlinson (3-34) made early inroads into BAT, who sank to 101-6 (Richard Kenway 45) before Richard Dibden (35) and David Bourne (32) launched the rescue boat. BAT's 195-9 looked promising when Dan Goldstraw (3-36) had South Wilts wobbling at 31-2.
But a third-wicket stand of 122 between Russell Rowe (68) and Manzoor Elahi (62 not out), aided by a quick-fire 28 off 14 balls from Tim Lamb, swept South Wilts to a seven-wicket win at 196-3.
Australian teenage Luke Ronchi struck a superb 120, but finished on the losing Bashley (Rydal) side as Bournemouth snatched a thrilling three-run victory over their near neighbours at Chapel Gate.
Ronchi, who cracked two sixes and 15 fours in his century, was eventually dismissed by a superb running catch by James Hands with Bashley in sight of passing Bournemouth's 208-6. They finished three runs adrift at 205-9, having needed ten runs to win off Toby Sharpe's final over.
Bournemouth could hardly have got off to a worse start, with in-form trip Matt Swarbrick, Mike Stonier and Tom Webley all back in the pavilion at 2-3.
John Whiting (2-31) and Kevin Nash did the early damage before Hands (92) and Julian Cassell (36) launched a century fourth-wicket recovery.
Neil Taylor (2-38) removed both batsmen, but Bournemouth went on to reach 208-7, with Martin Miller (41 not out) and David Kidner involved in the pre-tea assault.
Curiously, Bashley's response mirrored that of Bournemouth - the impressive Sharpe (4-27) and Kidner making three early breakthroughs.
Hampshire's Andrew Sexton, Neil Thurgood and Ian Hilsum were all dismissed before Bashley reached 20.
Bashley were in deeper strife at 70-6, but Ronchi's blistering century, which included 20 runs off Joe Wilson's first over, set the match up for the thrilling finish.
Taylor (37 not out) gave support but, after Ronchi ahd falled to Hands' superb catch, was unable to penetrate the large Chapel Gate boundary, Bashley closing at 205-9.
Second wicket pair Neil Cunningham (122) and John Francis (103 not out) created a new record partnership as bottom of the table Burridge beat Andover by 109 runs.
The pair added 235 as Burridge rattled up a season's best 285-3, with Matt Compton making 27.
Ian Langdown (43) and Roger Miller (42) took Andover's reply to 116-2, but the innings fell apart against spinner Matt Godwin, who took 6-38 and Paul Ancell, with 2-28.
Andover were bowled out for 175 - the first time Burride had dimissed an opposing side since June 1999.
Evergreen seamer Steve Brandes achieved the telling breakthrough as Calmore Sports slung on to beat Hungerford by two runs at the War Memorial Ground.
Jez Goode (62) dominated Calmore's 210-9 (David Pryke 4-19), but it appeared Hungerford were likely winners after a 118-run response by Jim Ettridge (70) and Toby Radford (58).
But Brandes dismissed both batsmen in a spell of 3-34, which effectively won Calmore the game.
Duncan Johnson (23) struck out, but with Paul Draper taking 2-49, Hungerford fell marginally short at 208-7.
© Mike Vimpany
| Teams | England. |
| Players/Umpires | James Tomlinson, Richard Rockley Dibden, Russell Rowe, Manzoor Elahi, James Hands, Toby Sharpe, Matthew Swarbrick, Kevin Nash, Julian Cassell, Neil Taylor, Martin Miller, Andrew Sexton, Neil Thurgood, Ian Hilsum, John Francis, Roger Miller, Jeremy Goode, David John Pryke, Toby Radford, Paul Draper. |
| Tournaments | English Leagues |
| Season | English Domestic Season |