Exploiting the damp Church Road conditions, 15-year old Rowledge prospect Ethan Martin took 6-29, but finished a disappointed loser as Havant clung on for a nervy five-run Southern Premier League Cup win over the Division 1 side.
The county age group seamer (pictured below) clean bowled four Havant batsmen and trapped another leg before as the visitors struggled to 156-8. Rowledge, requiring ten runs off the last over, needed a six off Richard Jerry’s last ball and closed a gallant 151-5.
Havant were indebted to opener Peter Hopson, whose 65 owed much to his experience in dealing with tricky surfaces. His third-wicket partnership of 72 with the equally patient Richard Hindley (37) was largely responsible for Havant’s total.
Havant also found the seam of Ricky Yates (1-7 off five) difficult to penetrate, the visitors losing two late wickets to Martin, as they fell from 141-4 to their eventual 156-8. Martin, alas, was far too young to buy a jug !
Rowledge immediately ran into trouble against the left-arm spin of Freddie Gadd, who opened the bowling and took two quick wickets.
It immediately put Jontie Seeborn on the back foot, but his handy fifty-plus partnerships with Ollie Baker (18) and later David Lloyd (28) gave Rowledge the chance of an upset against Premier Division opposition.
Sebborn went on to hit a six and nine fours in a splendid 80 but both he and Lloyd fell late on to Gadd. Rowledge required 10 runs to win from the last over bowled by Richard Jerry. They could only muster four off the first five balls, but with a six required off the final ball Jerry held his nerve and Havant breathed a sigh of relief.
The county age group seamer (pictured below) clean bowled four Havant batsmen and trapped another leg before as the visitors struggled to 156-8. Rowledge, requiring ten runs off the last over, needed a six off Richard Jerry’s last ball and closed a gallant 151-5.
Havant were indebted to opener Peter Hopson, whose 65 owed much to his experience in dealing with tricky surfaces. His third-wicket partnership of 72 with the equally patient Richard Hindley (37) was largely responsible for Havant’s total.
Havant also found the seam of Ricky Yates (1-7 off five) difficult to penetrate, the visitors losing two late wickets to Martin, as they fell from 141-4 to their eventual 156-8. Martin, alas, was far too young to buy a jug !
Rowledge immediately ran into trouble against the left-arm spin of Freddie Gadd, who opened the bowling and took two quick wickets.
It immediately put Jontie Seeborn on the back foot, but his handy fifty-plus partnerships with Ollie Baker (18) and later David Lloyd (28) gave Rowledge the chance of an upset against Premier Division opposition.
Sebborn went on to hit a six and nine fours in a splendid 80 but both he and Lloyd fell late on to Gadd. Rowledge required 10 runs to win from the last over bowled by Richard Jerry. They could only muster four off the first five balls, but with a six required off the final ball Jerry held his nerve and Havant breathed a sigh of relief.