Ethan Martin Teenagers Ethan Martin and Ollie Cordery produced an astonishing unbeaten last-wicket stand of 98, rescuing the Hampshire Academy from the brink of defeat to a remarkable victory over Havant at the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.
All seemed lost when the Young Hawks tumbled to 79-9 in response to Havant’s 176 all out – but in less than an hour Martin, aged 17 years from Rowledge, and Hambledon’s Oli Cordery turned the match on its head.
The Academy nosedived to 59-8 and later 79-9 with debutants Sonny Reynolds (3-38) and Nick Ward among the wickets.
It seemed for all the world that Ben Walker would be leading Havant to victory in the first league game of his third spell as captain when Bashley (Rydal) leg spinner Ethan Baker was ninth out, trapped leg before by Freddie Gadd with the fourth ball of the 28th over.
Martin and Cordery – who is still young enough to play in this year’s ECB Under-15 Bunbury Festival - had other ideas. Not only did the teenage pair share a near-century partnership, they scored their runs at a fair rate - 98 off just 12.1 overs.
Cautious at first, the pair gradually got to grips with the Havant bowling and, run by run, confidence grew to the extent boundaries began to flow.
Straight sixes
The first signs that the last-wicket pair weren’t just happy to block came in the 31st over, bowled by Reynolds. Fifteen were taken off that, with Martin hitting the last three deliveries to the boundary.
Evergreen Richard Hindley, bowling the 35th over, conceded 18 runs off it - 17 of them to Martin, including two straight sixes off the last two balls.
Another 15 came off the 38th over with Martin again helping himself to three boundaries.
A remarkable match ended in the 40th over, bowled by Ward. Cordery whacked the third ball for a six with a leg bye taken off the next delivery. That left Martin facing the fifth ball, which he duly smacked for his 11th and final boundary of a memorable 56-ball innings. He also hit two sixes.
Havant can’t say they hadn’t known about Martin’s batting ability. In a pre-season friendly last month, he hit 69 against them playing for Hampshire Pathways Under-18s.
Pressure
All seemed lost when the Young Hawks tumbled to 79-9 in response to Havant’s 176 all out – but in less than an hour Martin, aged 17 years from Rowledge, and Hambledon’s Oli Cordery turned the match on its head.
The Academy nosedived to 59-8 and later 79-9 with debutants Sonny Reynolds (3-38) and Nick Ward among the wickets.
It seemed for all the world that Ben Walker would be leading Havant to victory in the first league game of his third spell as captain when Bashley (Rydal) leg spinner Ethan Baker was ninth out, trapped leg before by Freddie Gadd with the fourth ball of the 28th over.
Martin and Cordery – who is still young enough to play in this year’s ECB Under-15 Bunbury Festival - had other ideas. Not only did the teenage pair share a near-century partnership, they scored their runs at a fair rate - 98 off just 12.1 overs.
Cautious at first, the pair gradually got to grips with the Havant bowling and, run by run, confidence grew to the extent boundaries began to flow.
Straight sixes
The first signs that the last-wicket pair weren’t just happy to block came in the 31st over, bowled by Reynolds. Fifteen were taken off that, with Martin hitting the last three deliveries to the boundary.
Evergreen Richard Hindley, bowling the 35th over, conceded 18 runs off it - 17 of them to Martin, including two straight sixes off the last two balls.
Another 15 came off the 38th over with Martin again helping himself to three boundaries.
A remarkable match ended in the 40th over, bowled by Ward. Cordery whacked the third ball for a six with a leg bye taken off the next delivery. That left Martin facing the fifth ball, which he duly smacked for his 11th and final boundary of a memorable 56-ball innings. He also hit two sixes.
Havant can’t say they hadn’t known about Martin’s batting ability. In a pre-season friendly last month, he hit 69 against them playing for Hampshire Pathways Under-18s.
Pressure
Elated Hampshire Head of Player Development Charlie Freeston said: “Ethan showed remarkable maturity and real skill under pressure to win the game.
“Supported brilliantly by Ollie Cordery (left), the 10th wicket partnership was 98 unbeaten to win the game from a position where we were dead and buried.
“Ethan has had a really promising start to the season and is a high potential allrounder for Hampshire.
“Ollie is developing nicely too. He went to the Bunbury Festival as an under-age player in 2021 but broke his finger. He’s currently having trials for this year’s South & West squad.
“Ollie is no number 11 either. He’s a very talented batsman, as he underlined !”
Prior to Martin and Cordery’s late-order heroics taking centre stage, Havant had been firmly in the box seat.
Ward - the University of Portsmouth skipper, who plays in the Kent League for Folkestone - dismissed both Academy openers Totton & Eling’s Tom Cheater (2) and Alton talent Jude Wright (7) on his way to figures of 2-47.
New ball partner Richard Jerry (2-23) ripped off Millfield pair Dom Kelly and skipper Joe Eckland for ducks - the latter first ball - before ex-Academy seamer Reynolds (3-38), on as first change, made further inroads.
Havant, having won the toss, had been bowled out for 177 with Hampshire U16 player Charlie Whitfield (batting at No 6) top scoring with 31 before he was dismissed by spinner Louis Prichard (3-21). Harry Gadd (29) and Ward (27 not out) were next highest.
While Martin’s heroics with the bat grabbed the headlines, his seam bowling is worthy of highlighting – seven overs, four maidens, one for eight before he was required to rest at the end of his stipulated spell.
“Supported brilliantly by Ollie Cordery (left), the 10th wicket partnership was 98 unbeaten to win the game from a position where we were dead and buried.
“Ethan has had a really promising start to the season and is a high potential allrounder for Hampshire.
“Ollie is developing nicely too. He went to the Bunbury Festival as an under-age player in 2021 but broke his finger. He’s currently having trials for this year’s South & West squad.
“Ollie is no number 11 either. He’s a very talented batsman, as he underlined !”
Prior to Martin and Cordery’s late-order heroics taking centre stage, Havant had been firmly in the box seat.
Ward - the University of Portsmouth skipper, who plays in the Kent League for Folkestone - dismissed both Academy openers Totton & Eling’s Tom Cheater (2) and Alton talent Jude Wright (7) on his way to figures of 2-47.
New ball partner Richard Jerry (2-23) ripped off Millfield pair Dom Kelly and skipper Joe Eckland for ducks - the latter first ball - before ex-Academy seamer Reynolds (3-38), on as first change, made further inroads.
Havant, having won the toss, had been bowled out for 177 with Hampshire U16 player Charlie Whitfield (batting at No 6) top scoring with 31 before he was dismissed by spinner Louis Prichard (3-21). Harry Gadd (29) and Ward (27 not out) were next highest.
While Martin’s heroics with the bat grabbed the headlines, his seam bowling is worthy of highlighting – seven overs, four maidens, one for eight before he was required to rest at the end of his stipulated spell.
