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SPCL 1 - Havant appeal over lost South Wilts time point
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 22 August 2002
Havant go into their penultimate ECB Southern Electric Premier League match at Burridge anxiously awaiting the outcome of an appeal to the league's administrators about not getting 21 points from last week's thrilling last ball win at South Wilts.
The recently defeated ECB Club Championship quarter-finalists clung on to win by one run after South Wilts scored 253-9, in reply to Havant's 254-7.
Jubilant Havant left the field thinking they had picked up 21 points from the victory, but found they had been penalised for exceeding the SPL's stipulated 2 hour 55 minute period, in which they captured seven of the nine South Wilts wickets that fell.
In the closing overs of a Bemerton thriller and as South Wilts edged ever close to the target, Havant took two more wickets to peg Russell Rowe's side to 253-9.
But time-watching umpires Dave Kirk and Phil Ratcliffe didn't give them an extra point for their efforts.
The problem - Havant claim was caused by injured South Wilts opener Paul Draper having to engage runner for 30 overs of the Salisbury club's innings.
"It takes a fair while for the batsman and runner to inter-change all the time, and our over-rate obviously suffered during this time, through no fault of ours" explained former Havant skipper Paul Gover.
"Draper (56) batted 30 overs with the aid of a runner and we didn't think the umpires compensated by allowing us additional time in which to get our overs bowled.
"We wrote on the official result sheet that we would be lodging an appeal - for 21 points, as opposed to 20 we've so far been given - and are waiting to see what the Premier League decides to do."
Havant, who went into the penultimate round of matches a solitary point ahead of BAT Sports, are naturally anxious to get a quick ruling from the SEPL, whose Management Committee isn't due to meet until September 1.
The new leaders expect to be at full strength for the Burridge trip, although there is a doubt over the availability of opener Luke Sears.
Badly beaten at Liphook & Ripsley last week, Burridge are all but mathematically down.
In-form opener Ian Williamson, Ed Brogan and London Irish rugby bound Tony Paul are absent tomorrow.
Cousins Simon Creal and Nick Creal, and 2nd XI wicketkeeper Pete Wild are called up by Burridge, who are holding a Memorial Match for their late groundsman George Winkles at the Botley Road ground on Sunday. Dave Banks will be anxious to stimulate deposed leaders BAT Sports before the key home game with Andover at Southern Gardens.
"We weren't good enough," Banks claimed after last weekend's untimely 27-run defeat at Bashley-Rydal.
BAT, who expect to be unchanged against Andover, seemed to lack last season's championship "spark" at Bashley and returned home well beaten.
"Andover are top of the 50-over pennant, so we've got a game on our hands tomorrow. And we need to produce the goods," Banks added.
Jerry Hayward returns for Andover, who give a Premier League debut to Hampshire Under-16 wicketkeeper Cillie van der Merwe, who scored a century for the club's 2nd XI last week.
Third-placed Bashley (Rydal) will continue to use Dale Middleton in a pinch-hitting opener's role against South Wilts at the BCG.
"Dale's 66 last week set us up nicely to win the game against BAT last week. He thrived on picking the holes early on when the fielding restrictions were in force and did really well," said skipper Neil Taylor.
Pace bowler Kevin Nash is brimming with confidence after five-wicket hauls in his last two Premier outings, while Luke Ronchi needs a decent score to clinch his niche as the Premier League's top individual run scorer.
"I've got 651 so far, but this guy from Liphook, Alistair Gray (with 582), seems to be catching me up, so I need to get a biggy against South Wilts tomorrow," the young Western Australian declared.
South Wilts have a doubt over the fitness of all-rounder Paul Draper, who is still troubled by the leg injury which handicapped him against Havant.
Draper is eager to be fit for possible Wiltshire selection next Thursday's C & G Trophy match against the Hampshire Board at Hursley Park.
Bournemouth could be pressed to finish third after losing to Calmore Sports last week.
But skipper Matt Swarbrick, a centurion for Dorset in last weekend's drawn Minor Counties Championship visit to Wales, is determined to see his side go out on a winning note.
They entertain lowly Liphook & Ripsley at Chapel Gate, with Swarbrick acknowledging that the club's prime concern is to see the 2nd XI promoted from the Hampshire League.
"The seconds have had a touch of the jitters in the past few weeks and need to win their last two games to try and get the runners-up place, which will get them promotion into Premier Division 3 next term.
"Neil Pack has done a great job with a very inexperienced team and their visit to Sarisbury Athletic is absolutely critical for them," he said.
Bournemouth's team selections have been left "up in the air" with Swarbrick possibly tempted to strengthen the 2nd XI.
"We'll wait and see. I'll be speaking to Packy to discuss the way forward," Swarbrick said
Calmore Sports, now free of relegation worries, visit Portsmouth at St Helen's, Southsea.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Russell Rowe, Paul Draper, Paul Gover, David Banks, Neil Taylor, Kevin Nash, Luke Ronchi, Matthew Swarbrick. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |