Bournemouth are 21 points clear at the top of the ECB Southern Premier Division at the half-way point of the season.
The ninth round of results were near enough perfect for the Lions, whose 62-run win over eight-time champions Havant coincided with defeats for their nearest overnight rivals, South Wilts and St Cross Symondians, the latter by Bashley (Rydal), who are now second.
Bournemouth’s sixth straight victory owed much to Luke Matthews and Chris Park, whose near century fourth wicket stand hauled the league leaders away from early trouble and to a competitive 225-7 Havant were never in a position to threaten.
Openers Nick Park and Sam Collins were back in the Chapel Gate pavilion before Bournemouth had barely reached double figures and when Luke Webb (21) was caught at 48-3, Havant were rightly claiming the spoils from the opening hour’s play.
Bournemouth needed a partnership and the ‘short and tall’ duo of Park (42) and the lanky Matthews provided it with a stand of 94 which turned the match.
Resolve
Matthews played the near perfect role, hitting 72 during a 129-ball stay at the crease before becoming the third victim for left-arm spinner Chris Morgan (3-34) at 192-7.
The Lions vice-captain hit a six and only five fours, but his resolve gave Simon Woodruff, Robbie Pack and latterly Tom Robinson, who twice cleared the rope in a punchy eight-ball 23 not out, license to strike out.
Robinson and Jake Hursley launched a blistering pre-tea assault, adding 33 quick runs to point Havant to a third defeat in their last four matches.
Still reeling, Havant lost key pair Peter Hopson and Richard Hindley with only three runs on the board and, though Simon Loat (43) dropped anchor, his fifth wicket revival with Jez Bulled (26) was the visitors only partnership of note.
A double strike by Ed Denham (2-41) effectively left them out for the count at 46-4 but though Loat and Bulled raised the score to 100, Bournemouth were always sniffing that sixth win on the trot.
Once the hugely influential Dan Conway (3-32) returned for a second spell to end the recovery, Havant were cooked.
Hurley (3-27), who had bowled Hindley with the new ball, and Pack trimmed the lower-order to leave Havant 163 all out and beaten by 62 runs.
The ninth round of results were near enough perfect for the Lions, whose 62-run win over eight-time champions Havant coincided with defeats for their nearest overnight rivals, South Wilts and St Cross Symondians, the latter by Bashley (Rydal), who are now second.
Bournemouth’s sixth straight victory owed much to Luke Matthews and Chris Park, whose near century fourth wicket stand hauled the league leaders away from early trouble and to a competitive 225-7 Havant were never in a position to threaten.
Openers Nick Park and Sam Collins were back in the Chapel Gate pavilion before Bournemouth had barely reached double figures and when Luke Webb (21) was caught at 48-3, Havant were rightly claiming the spoils from the opening hour’s play.
Bournemouth needed a partnership and the ‘short and tall’ duo of Park (42) and the lanky Matthews provided it with a stand of 94 which turned the match.
Resolve
Matthews played the near perfect role, hitting 72 during a 129-ball stay at the crease before becoming the third victim for left-arm spinner Chris Morgan (3-34) at 192-7.
The Lions vice-captain hit a six and only five fours, but his resolve gave Simon Woodruff, Robbie Pack and latterly Tom Robinson, who twice cleared the rope in a punchy eight-ball 23 not out, license to strike out.
Robinson and Jake Hursley launched a blistering pre-tea assault, adding 33 quick runs to point Havant to a third defeat in their last four matches.
Still reeling, Havant lost key pair Peter Hopson and Richard Hindley with only three runs on the board and, though Simon Loat (43) dropped anchor, his fifth wicket revival with Jez Bulled (26) was the visitors only partnership of note.
A double strike by Ed Denham (2-41) effectively left them out for the count at 46-4 but though Loat and Bulled raised the score to 100, Bournemouth were always sniffing that sixth win on the trot.
Once the hugely influential Dan Conway (3-32) returned for a second spell to end the recovery, Havant were cooked.
Hurley (3-27), who had bowled Hindley with the new ball, and Pack trimmed the lower-order to leave Havant 163 all out and beaten by 62 runs.
Never in doubt ! Packy (left) has his eyes peeled ... centre prepares to catch .. right, clings on !