Harry Foyle [Roy Honeybone]
First Harry Foyle, then later Australian Sam Beer were the influential players as St Cross Symondians pulled off a dramatic one-wicket win over eight-time ECB Southern Premier League champions Havant at The Park.
Set to overhaul Havant’s 203-9, St Cross had half their batsmen back in the pavilion at 106-5 and still had work to do at 156-7 when Harry Foyle (47) became a second spin victim for Chris Stone.
But Beer, who hails from Melbourne and joined St Cross on the recommendation of Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland, galvanized the tail, adding a precious 30 with Aidan Hawkesworth and then another 15 with Matt Howarth before the ninth wicket fell at 201.
Rookie St Cross fifth teamer Zac Farooq had to defend two balls before Beer regained the strike to make an unbeaten 28 and get the Winchester side across the line with ten balls to spare.
Earlier, Beer had a hand in the dismissal of Havant openers Ben Walker and Charlie Whitfield before Stone (74) and Harry Gadd (54) featured in the 75-run stand which lifted the hosts from 49-3.
But from 129-4, it was unlikely Havant would bat St Cross out of the game – though their 203-9 was almost enough !
Richard Jerry (3-42) and Sony Reynolds reduced St Cross to 45-4 before Jack Bransgrove (24) and Foyle put on 61 to take their reply to 106-5.
It ebbed and flowed after that, with Foyle reigning in his normal attacking instincts and batting a patient 89 balls for 47, an innings which proved so decisive.
Set to overhaul Havant’s 203-9, St Cross had half their batsmen back in the pavilion at 106-5 and still had work to do at 156-7 when Harry Foyle (47) became a second spin victim for Chris Stone.
But Beer, who hails from Melbourne and joined St Cross on the recommendation of Hampshire all-rounder Ian Holland, galvanized the tail, adding a precious 30 with Aidan Hawkesworth and then another 15 with Matt Howarth before the ninth wicket fell at 201.
Rookie St Cross fifth teamer Zac Farooq had to defend two balls before Beer regained the strike to make an unbeaten 28 and get the Winchester side across the line with ten balls to spare.
Earlier, Beer had a hand in the dismissal of Havant openers Ben Walker and Charlie Whitfield before Stone (74) and Harry Gadd (54) featured in the 75-run stand which lifted the hosts from 49-3.
But from 129-4, it was unlikely Havant would bat St Cross out of the game – though their 203-9 was almost enough !
Richard Jerry (3-42) and Sony Reynolds reduced St Cross to 45-4 before Jack Bransgrove (24) and Foyle put on 61 to take their reply to 106-5.
It ebbed and flowed after that, with Foyle reigning in his normal attacking instincts and batting a patient 89 balls for 47, an innings which proved so decisive.
Chris Stone : fine all round game for Havant [Roy Honeybone]
