Basingstoke celebrate U19 cup final win [Ian Thacker]
Basingstoke & North Hants held their nerve to snatch a dramatic one-run win over Hursley Park and win the inaugural Hampshire Loveless Under-19 Shield.
They defended 152 by the skin of their teeth, Hursley losing two wickets off the last three balls of their innings - both to run outs - to finish 151-8, one run short of Basingstoke score.
Hursley went into Abilash Nanthakumar’s final over needing nine runs to win. They took four runs off four balls then, after a fifth ball run out, required four to tie and win by virtue of least wickets lost.
A chaotic finale saw Hursley Park finish one run short, having suffered two run outs off two of the last three balls of the innings.
While Basingstoke celebrated, Hursley reflected on an opportunity missed, the visitors having looked firm favourites to lift the trophy at 108-2 on the back of an unbeaten half-century by Oliver Brimble (50) and Arthur Bryant (26).
Bryant’s dismissal triggered a collapse which saw six wickets fall for 43 runs.
Neil Shelar’s 51 not out, aided by Jack Smith (25), underpinned Basingstoke’s 152 all out, Patel Bhavyk (3-59) and Ben Lax (3-14) taking the bowling credits for Hursley Park.
Sixteen clubs participated in the inaugural Under-19 competition, named in memory of Vic Loveless, the one-time doyen of New Forest cricket.
Basingstoke beat Fleet, Hook & Newnham Basics and Rowledge in the lead up rounds, with Hursley Park knocking out Andover, Compton & Chandler’s Ford and Hambledon.
They defended 152 by the skin of their teeth, Hursley losing two wickets off the last three balls of their innings - both to run outs - to finish 151-8, one run short of Basingstoke score.
Hursley went into Abilash Nanthakumar’s final over needing nine runs to win. They took four runs off four balls then, after a fifth ball run out, required four to tie and win by virtue of least wickets lost.
A chaotic finale saw Hursley Park finish one run short, having suffered two run outs off two of the last three balls of the innings.
While Basingstoke celebrated, Hursley reflected on an opportunity missed, the visitors having looked firm favourites to lift the trophy at 108-2 on the back of an unbeaten half-century by Oliver Brimble (50) and Arthur Bryant (26).
Bryant’s dismissal triggered a collapse which saw six wickets fall for 43 runs.
Neil Shelar’s 51 not out, aided by Jack Smith (25), underpinned Basingstoke’s 152 all out, Patel Bhavyk (3-59) and Ben Lax (3-14) taking the bowling credits for Hursley Park.
Sixteen clubs participated in the inaugural Under-19 competition, named in memory of Vic Loveless, the one-time doyen of New Forest cricket.
Basingstoke beat Fleet, Hook & Newnham Basics and Rowledge in the lead up rounds, with Hursley Park knocking out Andover, Compton & Chandler’s Ford and Hambledon.
