Weakened Havant could struggle at Bashley

Bashley (Rydal) could give BAT Sports a significant boost in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League title race by beating weakened Havant at the BCG tomorrow SAT, 11.30am.

Havant, 17 points behind BAT, travel to the New Forest without Luke Sears and wicketkeeper Steve Snell, both key middle-order batsmen.

And will find third-placed Bashley in a buoyant mood after three straight wins against South Wilts, the Hampshire Academy and the bottom team, Calmore Sports.

"Although we beat them in a 50-over game earlier in the season, Bashley have often been a thorn in our side in the past and will surely test us tomorrow," said Havant skipper Paul Gover, who is uncertain who his replacements will be.

He will probably plump for 2nd XI captain Shane Ferguson and bring in medium-pace bowler Greg Benton.

Another option could be to call up Mark Copping, who took 5-32 in Tuesday's SEC Cup semi-final win over BAT.

Bashley's form has picked up dramatically since Western Australian Brad Thompson - fourth in the SPL batting charts with 389 runs in six knocks - returned from a broken finger sustained, ironically, in the previous match at Havant.

Leaders BAT Sports go to struggling Portsmouth without in-form teenage left-hander Damian Shirazi who, like Snell, is on ground duty at the England-South Africa ODI final at Lord's.

Archie Norris will probably step in for Shirazi, with Richard Kenway expected to open alongside 451-run New Zealander Neal Parlane.

Portsmouth, languishing in third from bottom position after a heavy defeat at Liphook & Ripsley last week, are keeping their fingers crossed that Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul will be able to boost their dwindling resources.

But Prittipaul may be required for Hampshire's 45-over match against Nottinghamshire at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.

Having been trounced by eight wickets by both BAT and Havant in recent weeks, Bournemouth are pinning their silverware hopes firmly on the Southern Electric Contracting Cup.

They play Alton, the unbeaten Premier Division 3 leaders, in the second semi-final at BAT next Thursday evening (6pm). The winners play Havant in the final at the Rose Bowl on August 5.

South Wilts expect former Hampshire batsman Jason Laney back in their line up for tomorrow's visit to Bournemouth, who could have Dave Kidner (side strain) back in action.

Calmore Sports bid for an unlikely double when they face the Hampshire Academy on the Rose Bowl Nursery ground.

The Totton club's solitary win this season came against the Young Hawks on May 10, since when Calmore have lost seven times.

Paul Cass misses the match, but former Academy pupil Martin Bushell, who hit a fine 94 against Bashley last week, faces an intriguing test against his old team-mates.

Jimmy Adams and Chris Benham will probably be the two contract players in a youthful Academy side, which has been hauled out of trouble by last man Giles White in the past fortnight.

White has made 68 not out (v Bashley) and an unbeaten 67 at South Wilts in the past two matches ... on both occasion coming in at number 11 !

But the former Hampshire opener is uncertain whether he will play against Calmore.

"There are a lot of options and the object of the exercise is to play as many youngsters as we can," he said.

Andover give Rob Atkins his first match of the season and are boost by Ian Langdown's return for the visit of Liphook & Ripsley to London Road.

Roger Miller's side will be chasing a double, having beaten Liphook by 83 runs in a 50-over affair earlier in the season.