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Portsmouth steal a march at head of SEPL Division 2
Mike Vimpany - 3 June 2001
Portsmouth have stolen a march at the top of Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 after fighting back to beat Lymington by four wickets after an absorbing tussle at St Helen's, Southsea.
With Sparsholt also losing their unbeaten record - they crashed to a nine-wicket defeat at Trojans - Portsmouth are out in front at the top.
The prospects of Portsmouth's solitary unblemished record remaining intact appeared unlikely as they dipped to 90-5, chasing Lymington's 205-6.
But a splendid 72 by former Hampshire all-rounder Lee Savident, which preceded a match-clinching partnership between Raj Maru (37 not out) and schoolboy Michael Barnes (26 not out), turned a yo-yo match on its head.
The game, which swung back and forth throughout the afternoon and evening sessions, produced some exhilerating stroke play, often followed by woeful dismissals.
Both teams began their respective innings as if the win points were to be decided after 16 overs, instead of 50.
Australian all-rounder Brian Clemow set a familiar pattern, blasting Dave Tiller out of the Portsmouth attack inside six overs as Lymington progressed to 43-0 in quick time.
But when Maru introduced his left-arm spin into the attack at the sea end, Lymington's initial charge was checked.
First, Maru lured former county 2nd XI team-mate Glyn Treagus out of his ground and then, several overs later, bowled Clemow for a hard hit 37.
Maru (2-27) and Savident (1-24) applied the brake to such an extent that Lymington lurched unconvincingly to 112-5 before the tide began to turn again.
Despite suffering from hamstring strains, Neil Trestrail (60) and Dave Coles (44 not out) put bat to ball to great effect in a 45-minute aerial assault immediately before tea to lift the Lymington total to 205-6.
Portsmouth came out of the traps with all guns blazing - South African teenager Stephen Cook (30) and Matt Keech producing a selection of sweetly timed drives and pulls.
Lymington looked set to buckle as Portsmouth swept majestically to 55-1 in the eighth over.
But Cook tried one shot too many and spooned up a return catch, Keech was run out (by Treagus) in a mix-up with Savident, then Jason Carr claimed his third scalp when he bowled Paul Dew.
Portsmouth had scored 56 runs, yet lost four wickets inside a bizarre opening ten overs - and the game was back in the balance.
The city club needed a responsible innings from Lee Savident and got one - the former Hampshire player producing the key knock of the match, amid the loss of a fifth Portsmouth wicket at 90.
But the ball from Daniel Peacock that bowled James Moon proved curiously counterproductive for Lymington.
Wicket keeper Dave Burgess needed hospital treatment after the ball struck him in the mouth - and Lymington, already handicapped by a variety of injuries, were left to field for the last hour or so with only ten men.
For the second time in the match, the experience of Maru took a decisive hand - and wrested the initiative away from the visitors.
Maru, missed before he had scored, provided the ideal foil as Savident struck a six and eight fours in a splendid 72 before being stumped by deputy `keeper Dave Coles at the second attempt.
But Hampshire's Development Coach had no need to concern himself at Savident's dismissal.
He dabbed and swept his way towards a crucial 37 not out - but left the final accolade to schoolboy prospect Michael Barnes, who completed Portsmouth's victory celebration in real style.
Five times in what was to prove the last over, the highly rated 16-year old, who had earlier produced a polished performance behind the stumps, cracked Jason Carr to the boundary.
It was a five-star finish by a youngster who has the potential to go a long way in the game ...
© SEPL
| Teams | England. |
| Players/Umpires | Lee Savident, Rajesh Maru, Glyn Treagus, Matthew Keech. |
| Tournaments | Southern Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |