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SPCL 1 - Bashley beat B.A.T., now can they do them a favour
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 18 July 2002
BAT Sports' bid to land an ECB Southern Electric Premier League and SE Contracting Cup double has been derailed by Bashley (Rydal).
But the table-topping Premier Division 1 champions are optimistic the New Forest club can give BAT's hopes of retaining the title a massive boost by beating Havant tomorrow, 11am.
BAT, who lost their SEC Cup semi-final by six wickets to Bashley in midweek, take a nine-point advantage into tomorrow's twelfth round of matches.
But, if they beat lowly Burridge at Southern Gardens and Bashley complete the double over second-placed Havant, the advantage at the top will be massive.
Skipper Dave Banks reckons the midweek SEC Cup defeat by Bashley - in which Neil Taylor took 5-10 to completely wreck the BAT batting - will have knocked any overconfidence out of the team.
"We came away from last week's three-wicket win at Havant on a real high, but were knocked back on the seat of our pants in midweek.
"Our batting was poor - we made only 104-8 in the cup tie - and got hammered," Banks recalled. "It might be the best thing that could have happened," he added.
BAT, with 14 successive all-day wins under their belts, send out an unchanged team against Burridge, but Havant go to Bashley minus influential South African all-rounder Malcolm Hobson and possibly Bevis Moynan.
Bashley, who will play the winners of Monday's tie between South Wilts or Rowledge in the SEC Cup final at the Rose Bowl on August 2, have Chris Sketchley back in their side.
But cup hero Neil Taylor knows that Havant will want to bounce back after losing to BAT Sports.
"They pulled off a great win in the ECB Club Championships on Sunday and are through to the national quarter-finals against Stanmore next weekend.
"Beating Clifton & Optimists - one of the top clubs in the West of England Premier League- was a terrific result and underlined the character they've got in the team," he said.
Third-placed Bournemouth have opener Matt Swarbrick heading the Premier Division 1 averages after last week's boundary-strewn 143 at South Wilts.
But Swarbrick, who is averaging 62.29 after scoring 436 runs in eight knocks, won't get an opportunity of playing against his former county 2nd XI team-mate Raj Maru when Bournemouth travel to Portsmouth, who lie one place below them in the table.
Lee Savident skippers the Portsmouth side, while Bournemouth, minus Dan Jackson, call up Chris Insall from their promotion chasing Hampshire League second team.
Inconsistent Andover, who have been shot out for less than 100 on three occasions this season, need to bounce back at the expense of relegation threatened Liphook & Ripsley at London Road.
It's a crucial game too for Liphook, who have won only once and are struggling to impose themselves in the all-day game.
South Wilts also need a pick-me-up after last week's nine-wicket drubbing by Bournemouth.
But the SEC Cup semi-finalists are no nearer resolving the problems they have in the bowling department, ie a near total lack of penetration.
Calmore Sports old boy Paul Draper will be looking to repeat his Loperwood Park heroics in the Lower Bemerton return.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | David Banks, Neil Taylor, Mackie Hobson, Matthew Swarbrick, Rajesh Maru, Lee Savident, Paul Draper. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |