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SPCL 1 - No bearing on the title? Havant and BAT clash
Mike Vimpany - 11 July 2002
BAT Sports skipper Dave Banks believes the toss could have a major bearing on the outcome of tomorrow's top of the table ECB Southern Electric Premier League clash against leaders Havant at Havant Park, 11am.
Six points separates Havant, the leaders, from BAT, the reigning champions, who will go back to the top if they win and avenge their early season 50-over defeat.
"Sadly, due to the recent wet weather, we aren't going to get a dry, bouncy pitch to play on - so whoever wins the toss could be in the box seat," he said.
Banks, whose full-strength side have strung together a remarkable sequence of 13 successive all-day `time' wins since June 2001, is desperate to call correctly.
BAT are banking on left-arm pace bowler Dan Goldstraw to exploit the damp conditions with the new ball and add to his recent wicket haul.
"Dan's got 20 wickets in the last four weeks. That's incredible going," Banks said. "We're at full strength and confident we can win.
"The outcome won't decide anything in terms of the championship - but it will have a major bearing on it."
Arguably Havant would normally have a little more strength in depth in the batting department, but Steve Snell is on MCC Ground staff duty at Lord's and misses the game.
Nonetheless, Havant are quietly confident they can complete the double over BAT. "I think we can at least break their winning streak in the `time' game," says Havant skipper Dominic Carson, who gives the keeper's gloves to Martin Schmidt.
"A winning draw would be a great result for us, though we will certainly be giving everything to beat them.
"I believe we will be strong favourites to win it (the title) if we can we up there alongside BAT when the 50-over games resume in four weeks time."
With the duel featuring the bulk of the Hampshire Board representative team, Carson anticipates a really competitive on-pitch atmosphere - but with a few beers in the bar afterwards.
"The two teams get on really well. We'll have a great game - and then replay it a few more times for the rest of the night," he laughed.
It's a huge weekend for Havant, who host Clifton & Optimists, the powerful West of England Premier League side, in the sixth round of the ECB Club Championship on Sunday afternoon, 2pm.
Steve Snell is back in an otherwise unchanged side for the cup tie against the Bristol club.
Third placed Bournemouth wait on Tom Webley's clearance by Somerset before finalising their line up for the visit to South Wilts.
"It's important Tom is available, as I don't want to start milking our 2nd XI, who are well placed in the Hampshire League and who we want up in the Premier League next year," says skipper Matt Swarbrick.
James Hibberd takes over the Calmore captain's armband from Denmark-bound Tom Pegler for the Loperwood Park meeting with inconsistent Andover.
With 336 runs and 16 wickets to his name already, Hibberd has ad a fine season in Calmore's colours.
"But I'll have to be on my best behaviour and set an example to all the others tomorrow," joked the sometimes argumentative all-rounder.
Hibberd knows the importance of getting a positive result against Andover. "We are not that well placed in the league and don't have a particularly great points average compared with Burridge and Liphook, so we need to win," Hibberd added.
Burridge chase a double against Portsmouth, whom they beat by 16 runs in mid-May to record their only win so far.
With Neil Cunningham ruled out because of a long term ankle injury, Burridge are weakened in the batting department.
Former Hampshire all-rounder Matthew Keech returns for Portsmouth following his recent wedding.
Bottom of the table Liphook & Ripsley are desperate to bounce back after being shot out for a meagre 44 by BAT Sports last week.
They entertain unchanged Bashley (Rydal), who lost a 50-over match to Liphook earlier in the season.
Western Australian batsman Luke Ronchi swept to the top of the Premier League run scoring charts with his awesome 144 against Calmore Sports last week.
And skipper Neil Taylor will demand more of the same in Bashley's revenge visit to Ripsley Park.
Ronchi, with an aggregate 427 runs, is only 25 runs ahead of BAT's former Lymington left-hander Damian Shirazi, who takes on top dogs Havant.
But neither the 21-year old Perth batsman, nor Taylor himself, are likely to forget that May 11 upset.
"It's the only game they've won all season and it doesn't sit kindly on our CV," Taylor said
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