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Rain curtails all but four of 18 SPCL matches
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 4 August 2002
BAT's prospects of pulling further clear in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship race have been hit by the weather.
They looked set for a comfortable victory over Portsmouth when a heavy rain caused the match to be abandoned in late afternoon.
Havant's visit to nearby Calmore Sports was also a victim of the weather. Dan Goldstraw wreaked havoc once again, tajing 6-54 as Portsmouth were dismissed for 105 at Southern Gardens.
The tally left-arm paceman now has 38 wickets this season - and, with four 50-over matches to go, is in sight of breaking the all-time record for the most number of wickets in a Southern League season.
Ironically, Kirk Stewart (3-33) struck three of the initial four blows before Goldstraw removed the Portsmouth middle-order and tail.
Portsmouth sank to 67-8 and were in danger of being bowled out before lunch before Richard Walker (22) gave their 105 all out a little respectability.
But BAT's victory bid was ended by the rain - the defending champions having made 9-0 when the game was abandoned.
Havant had made 124-3 through Steve Snell (48 not out) and Richard Hindley (43) when their match at Calmore was called off.
Bashley (Rydal) were in the driving seat against Bournemouth when the elements intervened. With Kevin Nash taking 5-69 and veteran John Whiting returning 4-37, they bowled Bournemouth out for 131 (Tom Webley 27).
"It was extremely difficult batting,"admitted Bashley skipper Neil Taylor. "Four balls an over either cut, swung or bounced awkwardly. It was ideal conditions for bowling."
But Bashley's victory bid was thwarted at 6.30pm with their reply at 37-1.
Burridge's prospects of avoiding relegation from the have taken another knock. While their visit to Andover was abandoned, rivals in distress Liphook & Ripsley picked up 15 valuable points from a winning draw at South Wilts.
In the only Premier 1 match to be completed, Liphook totalled 238-8 off 66 overs, with Alistair Gray (61), Chris Wright (46) and Michael Smyth (46 not out) top scoring.
Shaun Adam (4-80) and Paul Draper (3-103) did a lion's share of the bowling for South Wilts, who closed at 186-7 after a century third-wicket partnership between Jamie Glasson (78) and Jon Nash (48).
Wright (3-39) and Gray (3-27) took the bowling credits for Liphook.
Paul Hawkins held Burridge together with a splendid 75 at Andover, where former BAT all-rounder Richard Taylor (4-24) made early inroads.
Matt Hooper took 3-42 and also snapped up three catches as Burridge slipped to 185 all out. Andover were 16 without loss when the rains came.
The Hampshire Academy's thrilling one-wicket win at Easton & Martyr Worthy was the only Division 2 match to be completed.
Alton's promotion prospects in Premir 3 were finally extinguished with a two-wicket defeat by Hook & Newnham Basics
They appeared fairly comfortable after Paddy Heffernan (44), Julian Ballinger (35) and Mark Heffernan (33 not out) had steered them to 197-7.
Hook were in deep trouble at 120-7, but an undefeated half-century by Kevin Poulter turned the match on its head and gave Hook a two-wicket win.
In the only other completed match, Portsmouth II chased an abridged total to beat Bashley (Rydal) II by eight wickets at St Helen's, Southsea.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Daniel Goldstraw, Kirk Stewart, Stephen Snell, Richard Hindley, Kevin Nash, Thomas Webley, Neil Taylor, Christopher Wright, Shaun Adam, Paul Draper, Jamie Glasson. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |