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Andover's batting collapse sees Portsmouth to win
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 16 June 2002
A near total batting failure has cost Andover top spot in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League. They crashed to 114 all out and a 73-run defeat by Portsmouth in their first full session of all-day `time' cricket.
Facing Portsmouth's 187 all out - a total built around a splendid 80 by South African youngster Warren Swann - Andover sank to 58-9 before last wicket pair Lee Wateridge and Matt Hooper doubled the score.
Disappointed Andover skipper Roger Miller had no excuses - only praise for Portsmouth's performance.
"We thought we had got Swann early on, but to his credit Warren batted really well, with some smashing straight drives.
"When we batted, Naqeeb Ali Mohamed and Lee Savident bowled a very good line, and got the ball into the right areas. Portsmouth defended their total really well and our batting just fell to pieces against Raj (Maru) and Pete Hayward.
"Thanks to Lee and Matt at the end, our total reached some credibility," Miller said.
Ironically, Andover fired the early shots, with Richard Taylor (3-41) sending three of Portsmouth's "big guns" - Geoff Pike, Matt Keech and Lee Savident - back to the pavilion to have Maru's men rocking at 35-3.
Swann's innings, supported by some useful contributions from the lower order, wrested the initiative away from Andover. Hampshire Under-17 prospect Michael Barnes (23), who later snapped up three victims despite suffering a painful blow on his left index finger, provided the initial support.
But it was the tall Johannesburg teenager, recommended to Portsmouth by Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook, who played the match winning innings.
Hitting two sixes and seven fours in an accomplished 80, Swann piloted Portsmouth into a winning position. Fellow South African Gareth Tate took 3-63 with his off-spin, but a useful late rally involving Ben Nolan and Pete Hayward saw Portsmouth reach 187 all out in 50.4 overs.
It all went horribly wrong for Andover after that.
Hampshire Under-19 pace bowler Naqeeb Ali Mohamed (2-21) ripped out the Miller brothers and Savident removed Martin Docis at the start of a near immaculate 12-over spell, which cost just 15 runs.
Andover's middle-order caved in against Maru's flight and guile - the former Hampshire left-arm spinner taking 4-35 and bowling in tandem with Hayward, who helped himself to 3-18.
The six-week long leaders were eyeing a Premier Division 1 lowest total at 58-9, but Wateridge (41 not out), with a series of powerful back-foot cover shots, and the teenage Hooper (25) spared their blushes.
It appeared for a while as if the tenth-wicket pair might deny Portsmouth victory, but Hayward eventually ended the 56-run partnership when the left-handed Hooper provided Barnes with a third victim.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Roger Miller, Lee Savident, Rajesh Maru, Matthew Keech. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |