Richard Jerry, 5-wicket Havant bowling hero [Roy Honeybone]
Chris Stone admitted Havant made hard work of beating ECB Southern Premier Division basement-side Alton by two wickets at Havant Park.
In the closing stages there was even a chance that the visitors might pull off a shock win as Havant lost three wickets at 134 chasing down Alton’s 138 all out.
With eight wickets down and Alton threatening, bowling hero Richard Jerry managed to squeeze a ball between the wicket-keeper and slips to score the winning runs.
“We didn't have a wonderful last five overs,” said Havant captain Chris Stone.” Winning this game was a lot harder than it should have been. At the moment our middle order batsmen are having a tough time of it.
“It is an area where we need to improve things. We know that it can be difficult when you have several players out of form at the same time. All they can do is be patient, keep working hard and try to face as many balls as they can. Towards the end the momentum was definitely with Alton but the most important thing was picking up the win.'
At the start of the game Stone asked the visitors to bat first being conscious of the rain in the area.
Strike bowler Jerry (5-20) soon had Alton in all sorts of trouble removing their top three batsmen with just 23 runs on the board. He returned later to help mop up the tail as Alton were bowled out for 138, Jude Wright top scoring with 31 before Toby Salmon (27) and Matt Bacon (26) gave the innings a late boost.
“Richard has been with us for a few years and consistently hits his line and length,' said Stone. “At the same time he moves the ball away a bit. He caused South Wilts problems last week and Alton couldn't handle him. We bowled really well.”
The run chase seemed pretty routine as Havant's top four batsmen - Harry Gadd (27), Stuart Ransley (32), Pete Hopson (23) and Richard Hindley (20) - guided them to 103-3.
A sudden collapse, prompted by Salmon’s 3-20 return, saw Havant lose six wickets for 29 runs before the danger was finally averted.
* Burridge’s home match against South Wilts was washed out without a ball being bowled, while only eight overs were possible in Winchester, where St Cross Symondians were 14-2 against Lymington when play was abandoned.
In the closing stages there was even a chance that the visitors might pull off a shock win as Havant lost three wickets at 134 chasing down Alton’s 138 all out.
With eight wickets down and Alton threatening, bowling hero Richard Jerry managed to squeeze a ball between the wicket-keeper and slips to score the winning runs.
“We didn't have a wonderful last five overs,” said Havant captain Chris Stone.” Winning this game was a lot harder than it should have been. At the moment our middle order batsmen are having a tough time of it.
“It is an area where we need to improve things. We know that it can be difficult when you have several players out of form at the same time. All they can do is be patient, keep working hard and try to face as many balls as they can. Towards the end the momentum was definitely with Alton but the most important thing was picking up the win.'
At the start of the game Stone asked the visitors to bat first being conscious of the rain in the area.
Strike bowler Jerry (5-20) soon had Alton in all sorts of trouble removing their top three batsmen with just 23 runs on the board. He returned later to help mop up the tail as Alton were bowled out for 138, Jude Wright top scoring with 31 before Toby Salmon (27) and Matt Bacon (26) gave the innings a late boost.
“Richard has been with us for a few years and consistently hits his line and length,' said Stone. “At the same time he moves the ball away a bit. He caused South Wilts problems last week and Alton couldn't handle him. We bowled really well.”
The run chase seemed pretty routine as Havant's top four batsmen - Harry Gadd (27), Stuart Ransley (32), Pete Hopson (23) and Richard Hindley (20) - guided them to 103-3.
A sudden collapse, prompted by Salmon’s 3-20 return, saw Havant lose six wickets for 29 runs before the danger was finally averted.
* Burridge’s home match against South Wilts was washed out without a ball being bowled, while only eight overs were possible in Winchester, where St Cross Symondians were 14-2 against Lymington when play was abandoned.
