BAT Sports swept to a fifth win in six matches, but still trail Southern Electric ECB Premier League Division 1 champions Havant by a single point

Mike Vimpany15-Jul-2001BAT Sports swept to a fifth win in six matches, but still trail Southern Electric ECB Premier League Division 1 champions Havant by a single point.The two title contenders both won – BAT crushing South Wilts by eight wickets, and Havant finding Liphook & Ripsley a harder-than-anticipated opponent, but still emerging two-wicket victors.BAT Sports swept to their fifth all-day ‘time’ win out of six, whipping dispirited South Wilts by eight wickets at Southern Gardens.South Wilts, who have experienced several batting failures in recent weeks, saw their top order blown away by the BAT pace attack.Tom Caines (57) found himself fighting a lone battle for much of the morning session after Richard Taylor (3-22) had nailed Rob Wade early on.South Wilts progressed to 42-1 before Dan Goldstraw (3-53) struck three blows in quick succession. He removed Brendan Pauwells and Jamie Glasson in successive balls, and then, nine balls later, had Russell Rowe caught behind for a second consecutive duck.Caines found a reliable partner in Tim Lamb (22), but after the pair had raised the total to 101, Richard Dibden’s off-spin took effect.The one-time Hampshire 2nd XI spinner dismissed both batsmen and finished with 4-26 as South Wilts crumbled to 128 all out, with Taylor returning to the attack to remove the Tomlinson brothers.The writing was on the wall for South Wilts directly the normally subdued Damien Shirazi spanked Jim Tomlinson’s opening three deliveries to the boundary.Shirazi continued to dominate a 70-run opening partnership with Richard Kenway, but was eventually trapped in front by Russell Rowe, who extracted lift and turn.Dave Carson fell to a spectacular lunging catch by Jon Chandler, but Kenway stayed to lead BAT home by eight wickets – Simon Preston hitting several boundaries in an unbeaten 15.But Havant’s close-call two-wicket win over Liphook & Ripsley kept the reigning champions on top by a solitary point.Havant, who got home with seven balls to spare, found themselves frustrated by Liphook’s late order after Richard Lewis (4-30) had reduced the visitors from 41-0 with three quick breakthroughs.Left-hander Graham Tyler (51 not out) held Liphook together as Phil Loat (4-37) created inroads.Liphook might have struggled to post a treble-figure total but for Nick Gay (27) and Tim Wheatley (25), who gave them a fighting chance at 186-9 off 63 overs.Dominic Carson (42) took Havant’s reply to 81-3, but with spin duo Ben Jansen (3-74) and Charlie Van der Gucht bowling in tandem for 36 overs, scoring became progressively more difficult.It was Luke Sears, who has experienced a low key season, who proved Havant’s match-winner – the former Hampshire Under-19 skipper hitting a decisive 63.Several batsmen were run out before Havant eventually got home at 187-8 in the penultimate over.A half-century by Stuart Bailey, aided by some late hitting from Australian Glen Motchall, eased Calmore Sports to an exciting three-wicket win off the penultimate ball against Burridge at Loperwood Park.Prospects of Calmore bettering Burridge’s 178-8 off 58 overs looked decidedly slim when Paul Ancell’s three-wicket spell had the Totton club wobbling at 111-6.But Bailey and Motchall added 54 for the seventh wicket before the lanky Victorian got Calmore home after five runs had been required from Ancell’s final over.Burridge suffered an uncertain start, with James Hibberd (4-64) having both Ancell and Paul Hawkins caught behind by Bailey, who went on to claim four victims.But led by Jon Francis (61), Burridge gradually rebuilt their rain-affected innings.At 131-7, however, Burridge’s situation was not exactly promising, though Matt Godwin (25) and Paul Jenkins did lift the total to 178-8.Calmore suffered two early mishaps – Jenkins removing Paul Draper and Tom Pegler – responded through Paul Cass (23), Jez Goode (24) and Hibberd (22), only to dip back into trouble again.But star man Bailey batted splendidly for 51 and was splendidly supported by Motchall (29 not out) as Calmore snatched a three-wicket victory with one ball to spare.The Bournemouth-Bashley (Rydal) derby at Chapel Gate petered out into a tame draw, with the visitors unable to press home the initiative they held after taking five Sports Club wickets.Bashley certainly had their tails up after Matt King (3-49) and John Whiting (2-79) reduced Bournemouth to 92-5 (Matt Swarbrick 35).But once Tom Webley (63) and Geoff Warrington (52) had completed the rebuilding operation, Bournemouth were “safe” at 201-8.”We don’t have the batting depth to get a score like that against a bowling side of Bournemouth’s calibre,” confessed Bashley skipper Neil Taylor.”I have to hold my hand up and say we killed the game – but we weren’t going to lose.”Dorset’s Neil Thurgood (64) batted almost the entire length of Bashley’s 130-6, but with Paul Warren (3-32) and Peter Waite (2-32) creating inroads at the other end, he did a sterling job.Andover’s rain affected game with Hungerford fizzled out into a ‘bore draw’ after Neil Staddon (63), Dean Whitehouse (46) and Jerry Hayward (43) had posted 224 for the hosts.Hungerford reached 150-5 by the close, with Danny Williams (38), Robbie Maier (38) and Chris Ward (36) all making contributions.