SPCL1 Week5 - BAT sit pretty as Academy downed

BAT Sports sit at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League after crushing the Hampshire Academy by eight wickets at the Rose Bowl.

The Young Hawks were never in the hunt after dipping to 33-4 and, even though they rallied to reach 152-7, were handsomely beaten.

One-time Hampshire 2nd XI off-spinner Richard Dibden, who now captains BAT, described his side's performance as "thoroughly professional."

"To restrict the Academy to 152-7 on a `road' of a pitch was a highly commendable performance by our bowlers and particularly satisfying bearing in mind that Dan Goldstraw, our top wicket taker, was on holiday and Kirk Stewart is injured."

Instead, it was Chris Thomason (2-29) and Mark Page (1-15) who did the damage with the new ball, whipping out Iain Brunnschweiler (5), Ian Hilsum (0) and Peter Hammond (5).

When Damian Shirazi had Mitchell Stokes caught for 6, Hampshire were in deep trouble at 33-4.

Kevin Latouf (30) retained his cool, but BAT's bowlers maintained a strict line, with the left-arm spin of Terry Rawlins (2-26) and Dibden (1-24) particularly difficult to penetrate.

Former Hampshire opener Giles White (23) fell at 95-7, leaving David Griffiths (38 not out) and Luke Merry with the responsibility of putting a reasonable total on the board.

But 152 was never likely to be enough - and New Zealander Neal Parlane and Damian Shirazi quickly tucked in to the Hawks attack.

Griffiths conceded 27 runs off his five overs and Merry 28 off four as Parlane quickly got into the groove.

The Kiwi scored 50 of the first 67 runs to leave Shirazi (55 not out) and Richard Kenway (28) the formality of securing an easy BAT victory.

Calmore Sports fancied their chances of a second 50-over victory when they reduced Liphook & Ripsley to 73-8, but it all went pear shaped for the Totton club, who suffered a batting collapse of their own.

Calmore struck an important blow when Paul Cass trapped South African Alistair Gray leg before. Only Steve Riley, Jez Bulled and Duncan Berry reached double figures as Mark Boston (3-37) and Co made winless Liphook struggle to 73-8.

But Tim Wheatley (40 not out) and man-of-the-match Alan Crawford (20) turned the match on its head with an unbroken 58-run partnership which lifted the visitors to 131-8.

Calmore began confidently enough through Eugene Burzler (19) and Cass, but at 35-1 began to totter.

Nick Gay (3-16) achieved a double breakthrough, but it was Crawford's off-spin which caused most problems - with Burzler, James Hibberd, Tom Pegler (23) and Dave Rouse (14) all perishing.

Calmore's lower-order collapsed like a pack of cards - an optimistic 84-5 quickly becoming 91 all out as five wickets fell for six runs and the innings to 91 all out.