Havant Cricket Club 2014

The story of 2014……….

The 1st team got off to a flying start with an 8 wicket win over Alton at Havant Park. Ben Walker and Rohan Kandiah returned combined figures of 13-7-11-5 as Alton were dismissed for 56. Havant romped home losing Hopson (19) and Walker (12) on the way…

Havant do the double on Totton!

Gareth Ransley scored 104* as the 2’s win by 8 wickets at Southern Gardens with Ransley and Andy Galliers (90*) sharing a 207 run partnership. Earlier, Graham Burns had starred with the ball taking 3-39 as Totton posted 223-7.

Ben Walker (61*) and Peter Hopson (88*) secured a 10 wicket win at Havant Park with an unbeaten 166 run partnership! The pair took only 33.5 overs to knock off the total set by Totton. The bowling performance was equally impressive with Jeremy Ord taking 3-22 and Steven Matthews taking 3-46 restricting Totton to 165-9.

The 3rd’s lost by 34 runs at Botley Recreation Ground to IBM South Hants. The spinners did a good job by keeping the opposition to 209 with Smallbone picking up 3-30. The reply was made up of lots of little innings with Andy Ransley top scoring with 20. Havant reached 175 with extras hitting 49!

Rain Strikes……Again!

The start of the season was blighted by horrendous weather!

The 2nd team were robbed of a fantastic position against Sparsholt whilst the 1st team did not even travel to Burridge that weekend.

The 3rd team came untangled at Cams Hill School against Portchester 3’s. Porchester batted first on a very wet wicket making 130-8. Smallbone (4-24) and Dyer (3-28) were the most effective bowlers.

In reply, Havant could only manage 102 with Hopson making 56.

Havant go top of the League

Steven Matthews (3-20), Stuart Ransley (3-25) and Chris Morgan (2-18) spun Havant to a 5 wicket win over Ventnor propelling the 1st team to the top of the league. Ransley completed a fine all round performance by making 28* in the reply.

The 3rd’s fell to an 8 wicket loss against Hursley Park 3’s at Cowplain. Bobby Dyer top scored with 21 as Havant made only 65 in just over 32 overs.

Dyer and Danielle Ransley took a wicket each in the reply.

The 2nd’s were beaten by 7 wickets at Rowledge on a damp track. Havant were asked to bat first, and could only muster 89 in a little over 43 overs.

Rowledge scored more freely in their reply, but Pete Hayward did take 2-31 to briefly subdue Rowledge.

The 2nd team were defeated by 86 runs at Havant Park by Langley Manor. Langley Manor made 241-6 with Andy Ransley and Oliver Jones picking up two wickets each. Many of the Havant batsmen made starts, but nobody could make it past 30 as Havant finished on 155 all out.

Heroic Harry leads Havant to Academy win

Harry Hovey scored 76 in an impressive 5 wicket win for the 1st team on the Nursery Ground at the Ageas Bowl. Stuart Ransley maintained his form with 64*. Rohan Kandiah took 5-58 in a superb bowling spell!

The 3rd’s struggled against a power packed Waterlooville 2nd team. Sam Robinson (3-31) was the pick of the bowlers as Waterlooville were bowled out for 214. The reply never got started as Havant were bowled out for 61. A 25 run partnership for the final wicket between Craig Stainton and Mike Jones showed the youngsters how it should have been done!

An impressive performance from Ben Walker (4-45 & 44) saw the 1’s across the line in a 4 wicket win against Alton.

Despite some lusty blows from Pete Hayward (40), the 2’s lost by 7 wickets at Hartley Wintney putting the team in a precarious position.

The performances of the day came from the 3’s in an impressive 8 wicket win against Tichborne Park 2’s. Mike Jones (3-5) and Danielle Ransley (3-31) did the damage with the ball, and Bobby Dyer saw the team home with an unbeaten 63*.

The 1st team secured a 5 wicket win at Lymington with Peter Hopson (108) providing the foundations for a successful chase of 227. Earlier, the bowling spoils were shared about with Morgan (2-55), Hindley (2-63) and Ransley (2-29) all heavily involved.

Experience certainly came to the fore as the 2nd team secured a vital 6 wicket win over OT’s and Romsey. Graham Burns led with the ball taking 4-33 as OT’s were restricted to 190. Andrew Galliers anchored the reply with 81* along with notable contributions from Robson (34) and Christian (26).

Phil Loat rolled back the years as he took 5-35 as the 2nd team secured an impressive 66 run victory at St.Helens. He was supported well by Graham Burns and Pete Hayward who picked up 2 wickets each as they defended a total of 189.

The 1st team suffered a disappointing defeat at home to South Wilts. Every player in the top 8 got in to double figures, but Havant were not able to get close to the 298 run total. Chris Stone top scored with 44.

The wet weather during the week meant that the match against Hayling Island II’s was cancelled for the 3rd team. Havant progressed through to the next round of the T20 after a comfortable victory at Bournemouth (Hopson 55, Ransley 2-14, Morgan 2-15)

2ND’S MAKE IT 3 ON THE BOUNCE!

Ben Walker inspired the 2nd team to an impressive 82 run victory against Paultons. Ben took amazing figures of 8.1–6–7-6 as he hauled the team to an unlikely victory at Havant Park!

Ben was part of four ducks during the 1st innings as Havant had been dismissed for 132. Only Gareth Ransley (29), James Christian (29) and Graham Burns (32) offered any serious resistance.

However, Paultons were blasted out by Walker, who was well supported by Pete Hayward (2-10) and Phil Loat (2-15).

A fantastic return catch by Steven Matthews turned the tide for the 1st team against Bashley (Rydal) at Havant Park. The left arm spinner took a fantastic sprawling catch to remove Jaron Morgan for 0. This dismissal continued a dramatic collapse, as Bashley (Rydal) went from 135-1 to 192-9. Steven Matthews (4-33) and Stuart Ransley (5-54) were the architects of a vital winning draw. Earlier, a 97 run partnership between Hopson (53) and Robert Gibson (48) led Havant to a below par total of 220.

The 2nd team suffered a 40 run defeat at Calmore Sports with James Robson (37) and Simon Loat (33) getting decent starts.

The 3rd team secured a fantastic win at Froxfield. Sam Robinson (61) and Charlie Jackson (76) were backbone of the 269 runs scored.

Danielle Ransley began a rich vein of form as she took 3-43 to secure a 134 run victory for a 3rd team that were quickly rising up the league!

The 3rd team continued the winning feeling with a 5 wicket victory at Cowplain Rec. Danielle Ransley (3-24) continued taking wickets and was supported by the returning Mark Copping (3-46) as they removed Old Alresford for 104. Bobby Dyer (38) and Tim Jackson (32) ensured that the 3’s got over the line comfortably.

However, there was nothing comfortable about the 1st team winning draw at Totton. A late onslaught by Cameron Valente meant Totton nearly secured all the points at Southern Gardens. Earlier Ben Walker (95) and Harry Hovey (58) had steered the team to a commanding 314-8, but this was nearly not enough on a tense afternoon for the team.

The 2nd team got back on track with a 7 wicket win against Totton 2’s. Phil Loat took 4-20 as they skittled Totton out for 112.

Steve Dean (38*) ensured that the chase posed few problems for the team.

The 3rd team just kept winning! This time, they beat Ropley 2’s at Cowplain by 3 wickets. Tim Jackson (2-42), Max Carter (2-28) and Danielle Ransley (2-36) restricted Ropley to 190-7.

However, the star of the show was Sam Robinson! His 98 from 81 balls was the foundation of the chase and outstanding performance by the 15 year old.

Despite Andy Galliers taking 3-30 and Steven Dean making 69, the 2nd team were on the losing side in a 76 run defeat against Sparsholt. Sparsholt had been 71-5, but made it to 269-8!

The 1st team brushed Burridge aside at Havant Park. Richard Hindley (6-35) made immediate inroads as Burridge were removed for 123.

In reply, a 95 run partnership between Ben Walker (54*) and Harry Hovey (40*) saw the team home easily.

The 1st team relied on their left arm spin duo to wheel Ventnor out for 151 on the island. Chris Morgan (5-44) and Steven Matthews (4-34) did the majority of the spade work, as they removed a strong Ventnor batting line up. Ben Walker continued his form with the bat making 43, but the 1st team struggled to knock the runs off. However, Stuart Ransley (37*) and Jeremy Bulled came together for a 44 run partnership to see the team home.

The 2nd team suffered another defeat at home to a powerful Rowledge team. Andrew Galliers took 3-40 in the 178 run defeat at Havant Park. However, the 2nd team did have to complete the majority of the game with 10 men as Mark Copping suffered an injury whilst bowling.

The 3rd team made it 5 wins on the bounce! Danielle Ransley took 4-57 as Ampfield made an imposing 223-6. Simon Morgan (73) and John Brocklehurst (79*) made light work of the total. The pair smashed the Ampfield attack with 32 balls to spare. The 3rd team continued their rise up the league!

Colts Day

The 3rd team winning formula churned out another win against Gosport Borough. Danielle Ransley (4-27) took her league wicket haul to 26 for the year as the 3rd’s restricted the opposition to 130-8. John Brocklehurst continued his form with the ball as he took 3-14 . A 66 run partnership between Jack Davies (44*) and Martin Kinge (25*) took Havant to a 5 wicket victory and in to promotion contention!

A superb bowling performance ensured that the 1st team won by 4 wickets against the Hampshire Academy. Walker (4-23), Morgan (3-17) and Hindley (2-20) kept the Academy to 140. Walter Lawrence Trophy winner Rob Gibson top scored with 31 in a nervous reply. The result meant that the 1st team were 7 points behind South Wilts in the table.

The 2nd team came agonizingly close to securing their safety in Division 2, but succumbed to a 2 wicket loss. Robson (60) and Ransley (51) laid the platform in a score of 212. Loat (3-44) and Hayward (3-37) gave the 2’s a fighting chance, but a boundary off the last ball saw Langley Manor to victory!

The 2nd’s disposed of Hartley Wintney by 86 runs! Simon Loat (59) and Gareth Ransley (50) led Havant to 197-9. Phil Loat continued his excellent season with 5-32! Tim Jackson had a fantastic day for the 3rd team in their 5 wicket victory over Fair Oak. His 5-23 contributed to Fair Oak being rolled for 93. He then made 40* batting at no.3 to see the team home!

The 1st team went top of the table thanks to a crushing 119 run victory at St.Cross, as South Wilts lost at home to Lymington. An 80 run partnership between Walker (54) and Hopson (45) laid the foundations. Chris Stone (46) carried the good work on to help the team make 206-7. Walker (3-13) and Kandiah (3-19) blew away the top order reducing St.Cross to 27-7!

A 5 wicket win over Lymington for the 1st team set up a final day decider against South Wilts. Lymington spiralled from 98-1 to 158 all out. Spin was to the fore, with Steven Matthews taking 3-16 and Richard Hindley taking 3-19. A 91 run opening partnership between Ben Walker (47) and Rob Gibson (39) gave Havant a strong base for their reply. Chris Morgan scored a spritely 44 to ensure that Havant got across the line.

A depleted 2nd XI travelled to OT’s and Romsey. A 9 wicket defeat still had some notable highlights. Steve Dean (58) anchored the Havant innings of 158. He was given decent support from Phil Loat (33) on a tricky wicket. Daniel Oliver made a successful return to league cricket taking 1-28 from 8 overs, but OT’s were much too strong in the end.

The 3rd’s put a spirited display against promotion contenders Fareham and Crofton 2’s despite a depleted team. Fareham put 248-3 on the board with Robin Sykes taking 2-61. The reply would have pleased Craig Stainton, as Geoff Owen (66) and Charlie Jackson (70) ensured that the deficit was only 60 runs. The pair put on 73 for the 2nd wicket.

Hopes of a league title were sadly extinguished at Salisbury on the final day of the season for the 1st team. A 48 run defeat meant that South Wilts won the League, though Havant did retain their 50 over pennant. Chris Morgan was the pick of the bowlers taking 4-39, including a superb return catch to remove James Hayward. However, only Stuart Ransley (38) and Harry Hovey (29) managed to make any significant contribution in the pursuit of 175.

A gloomy final day of the year was compounded by the relegation of the 2nd team. Portsmouth were able to hang on to a 5 run victory at Havant Park. Josh McCoy impressed with the ball taking 3-27 as Portsmouth made 231-9. Many of the batsmen made a start but Havant were not able to get over the line. James Christian top score wed 45.

The 3rd team capped off a successful season with 3 run victory over Sarisbury. Simon Morgan laid the platform with 53 in a team score of 153. Jim Smallbone capped off an excellent season taking 6-47 to ensure that the 3rd team finished 5th in the league.