Ryan Covey suffered the agony of being run out for 99, one run short of his maiden ECB Southern Premier Division century, in Alton’s ‘winning draw’ against Bournemouth at Chapel Gate.
Covey was run out by Ollie Breckon off the very last ball of Alton’s 198-8, having batted all 56 overs through the sweltering heat.
He explained: “I was on 98 facing the last ball of the innings and Bournemouth had put every fielder on the boundary. I hit it to one of them and got run out coming back for the second! So 99 it was!”
It was the fourth time Cover (pictured) had come within touching distance of a league century, having made an unbeaten 96 for Liphook & Ripsley (v Fawley in May 2016) and two subsequent 90-plus scores for Sarisbury Athletic.
He hit three sixes and five fours in his 99, sharing a 98-run start with Scott Myers (50) and another handy partnership with Dan Harris (31), the pair taking Alton to 169-2 before Robbie Pack (4-54) and Tom Robinson (3-35) began to create inroads.
Lions were left with just 10 men moments before the contest after Jonny Coombs sustained a back problem in the warm-up, with the hosts having to call an ambulance following the injury.
That meant youngster Axel Deem was drafted in from the third team for Lions. Visitors Alton were also late to the contest due to a closure on the M27.
Skipper Chris Park explained: “In the first minute of our warm-up, Jonny - our second team captain who has been playing the past few weeks for the first team – had a back injury and we actually had to call an ambulance for him.
“He was led down and felt really faint. He was in agony every time we moved him. “The ambulance came and he is now set to go back to the doctor. For him to go down like he did was very unlike him.
Covey and his team-mates will have been disappointed not to have been thwarted in their efforts to bowl Bournemouth out.
Bournemouth were indebted to Luke Webb (57) and Ed Denham (43) for being able to force a draw at 169-9, Kiwi Matt Bacon’s 5-46 return almost getting Alton across the line.
It was left to Robinson (13*) and Breckon (0*) to see out the final five overs, as the hosts closed on 167 for nine.
“I know the talent is there in the team,” said Park, whose Bournemouth side faces a key bottom-of-the-log showdown with Basingstoke & North Hants at Chapel Gate on Saturday, 11am.
“We showed good signs with the bat, but at the same time their opening bowler also got the better of us on a couple of occasions and kept us on the back foot.
“But I was really pleased we showed the fight and determination to come out with a losing draw – it was positive for us that we didn’t lose. We bowled and fielded excellently, which was really pleasing to see.”
Covey was run out by Ollie Breckon off the very last ball of Alton’s 198-8, having batted all 56 overs through the sweltering heat.
He explained: “I was on 98 facing the last ball of the innings and Bournemouth had put every fielder on the boundary. I hit it to one of them and got run out coming back for the second! So 99 it was!”
It was the fourth time Cover (pictured) had come within touching distance of a league century, having made an unbeaten 96 for Liphook & Ripsley (v Fawley in May 2016) and two subsequent 90-plus scores for Sarisbury Athletic.
He hit three sixes and five fours in his 99, sharing a 98-run start with Scott Myers (50) and another handy partnership with Dan Harris (31), the pair taking Alton to 169-2 before Robbie Pack (4-54) and Tom Robinson (3-35) began to create inroads.
Lions were left with just 10 men moments before the contest after Jonny Coombs sustained a back problem in the warm-up, with the hosts having to call an ambulance following the injury.
That meant youngster Axel Deem was drafted in from the third team for Lions. Visitors Alton were also late to the contest due to a closure on the M27.
Skipper Chris Park explained: “In the first minute of our warm-up, Jonny - our second team captain who has been playing the past few weeks for the first team – had a back injury and we actually had to call an ambulance for him.
“He was led down and felt really faint. He was in agony every time we moved him. “The ambulance came and he is now set to go back to the doctor. For him to go down like he did was very unlike him.
Covey and his team-mates will have been disappointed not to have been thwarted in their efforts to bowl Bournemouth out.
Bournemouth were indebted to Luke Webb (57) and Ed Denham (43) for being able to force a draw at 169-9, Kiwi Matt Bacon’s 5-46 return almost getting Alton across the line.
It was left to Robinson (13*) and Breckon (0*) to see out the final five overs, as the hosts closed on 167 for nine.
“I know the talent is there in the team,” said Park, whose Bournemouth side faces a key bottom-of-the-log showdown with Basingstoke & North Hants at Chapel Gate on Saturday, 11am.
“We showed good signs with the bat, but at the same time their opening bowler also got the better of us on a couple of occasions and kept us on the back foot.
“But I was really pleased we showed the fight and determination to come out with a losing draw – it was positive for us that we didn’t lose. We bowled and fielded excellently, which was really pleasing to see.”