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SPCL 1 - Havant regain crown as the hammer Bournemouth
Mike Vimpany - 1 September 2002
Havant are ECB Southern Electric Premier League champions for the second time in three seasons.
They regained the title with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Bournemouth to finish three points clear of BAT Sports, last year's winners, who scrambled a nervous one-wicket victory at Calmore.
Celebrations ran long into the night after Havant had reclaimed the crown. It was the eighth time Havant - former Southern League champions on six previous occasions - had lifted the trophy.
"We had our share of disappointments recently in the ECB Club Championship, but winning the Premier title again has more than made up for it," said overjoyed Havant skipper Dominic Carson.
"We've lost only four games in the past three seasons, which is a terrific record and I think we've deserved it this summer."
While BAT were spluttering to an unconvincing single-wicket victory at Loperwood Park, Havant moved remorselessly to the title.
They overhauled Bournemouth's modest 173-7 to win by eight wickets with 11 overs to spare.
Needing 20 points to make sure of the title, Havant made a sure start with Yorkshireman Bev Moynan (2-22) dismissing Bournemouth openers Geoff Warrington and Matt Swarbrick.
While Martin Miller (57) and Dan Jackson (32) were together, Bournemouth looked as though they might make a fight of it.
But when Jackson was run out by Mackie Hobson, Bournemouth's promising 107-2 became 123-6 - Richard Hindley (2-34) claiming two victims either side of Dave Kidner's duck.
Matt Mixer (26 not out) restored parity and lifted Bournemouth's final total to 173-7.
Once Havant openers Andy Perry and Dom Carson (36) became established, there was only one likely winner.
Indeed, Havant reached 106 before James Elliott-Square had Carson caught behind and later took a splendid full-length diving catch to deny Perry for a splendid 77.
It launched full scale celebrations at Havant Park, which ran on long into the night.
Defending champions BAT Sports produced a nervy, unconvincing performance and only just scrambled past Calmore's 174-9.
They made a bright enough start with Kirk Stewart (2-27) removing Calmore openers Greg Lewis and James Hibberd.
But were held up for the bulk of the afternoon session by left-hander Jez Goode (65), who kept the Calmore scoring rate ticking along at a steady rate.
Tom Pegler (23) provided useful support, but when Calmore plunged to 120-6, BAT began to buzz.
Terry Rawlins (2-27) and Richard Dibden created breakthroughs before some late order hitting from Stuart Bailey (28) and Clive Surry (27) lifted Calmore's final total to 174-9.
One six by Bailey shattered the windscreen of a vehicle in the Calmore car park.
BAT lost wickets all too regularly, tumbling to 68-5 before Australian Michael Watson (47) and Terry Rawlins (27) began the fight back.
The sixth-wicket pair took BAT to 143-6 before another collapse left the defending champions facing an unexpected defeat at 148-8.
But 48-wicket Dan Goldstraw underlined his versatility with an unbeaten 12 which saw BAT home by one wicket with five balls to spare.
© SPCL
| Players/Umpires | Matthew Swarbrick, Martin Miller, Mackie Hobson, Richard Hindley, Andrew Perry, Kirk Stewart, James Hibberd, Jeremy Goode, Richard Dibden, Daniel Goldstraw. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |