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Phones to be red-hot as Havant and BAT vye for Championship
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 29 August 2002
Nothing less than a 22-point maximum will do for BAT Sports against Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park tomorrow (SAT)(1 o'clock) if the ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship trophy is to remain at Southern Gardens.
But even that might not be enough if Havant beat Bournemouth and pick up 20 points in the process.
Title holders BAT go into the final round of matches trailing Havant by two points.
But skipper Dave Banks certainly won't be giving the trophy up lightly. "We'll be giving it everything against Calmore tomorrow," he warned.
"If we can post a big score or bowl them out cheaply, it will put a lot of pressure on Havant.
"The phone lines are going to be red hot between Calmore and Havant Park, so we'll each know what the other is doing."
Ironically, BAT clinched the trophy by beating Calmore at Loperwood Park last season. "That might just be a lucky omen," Banks added.
Calmore, thrashed out of sight by BAT in mid-summer, could be without promising teenagers Paul Cass and Matthew Metcalfe, who may have to rest up in preparation for Hampshire Under-19s ECB Cup final against Somerset at Bristol on Sunday.
BAT will be at full strength, with 695-run Damian Shirazi looking to stay ahead of Bashley-Rydal's Luke Ronchi in the tussle for the Premier League batting award.
But BAT know they will not get many favours from Bournemouth, who are unlikely to be at full strength for the Havant Park clash.
"We'll be taking a pretty strong side across there, but Bournemouth's main priority is to get our 2nd XI promoted from the Hampshire League into Premier 3, so one or two first teamers will probably drop down.
"Our seconds lie fifth in County Division 1, but if they beat Andover tomorrow, they could be promoted - and that's very important to us," said Bournemouth skipper Matt Swarbrick.
Havant, the inaugural Premier League winners two seasons ago, are certain to have everyone available.
Bashley-Rydal, already certain of finishing above Bournemouth in third place, go to Andover, whose prospects of winning the 50-over pennant probably disappeared when they lost by nine wickets at BAT last week.
Kevin Nash is in a rich vein of form after taking 13 wickets in the past three games - and aims for a few Andover scalps as he bids to win his first Southern Electric Cricketer of the Month award.
Australian Ronchi aims to say his farewells with a big score - but has a 19-run deficit to make up on Damian Shirazi in the batting award stakes.
"I too will be making a few phone calls to see how Damian's got on - that's if I can get through tomorrow afternoon," he joked.
Burridge too will be saying their farewells - to Premier Division 1 cricket - at South Wilts, where Jamie Glasson sits out the second and final Saturday of a two-week suspension.
Burridge are certain to be relegated after being thrashed by ten wickets by Havant last week.
Former Hampshire left-arm spinner Raj Maru plans to hang up his boots after Portsmouth's visit to Liphook & Ripsley, who have already agreed terms for 658-run South African Alistair Gray to return to Ripsley Park next summer.
"Alistair's done really well for us, both in the middle and with his coaching - and we had no second thoughts about inviting him back," confirmed Liphook vice-chairman Alan Wright.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, will have captain-elect Lee Savident, the former Hampshire all-rounder, at the helm.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | David Banks, Damian Shirazi, Luke Ronchi, Matthew Swarbrick, Kevin Nash, Jamie Glasson, Rajesh Maru, Lee Savident. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |