SPCL1 Week8 - Havant leave Bournemouth well behind

If Bournemouth needed any reminder about how far they are away from making a realistic challenge for the ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship it came in the form of a five-wicket defeat by title holders Havant at Chapel Gate.

Quite simply, they were outplayed in virtually every department by a Havant side for whom centurian Richard Hindley played one of the best individual innings seen at the Sports Club in years.

In terms of current points per match average, Havant are a little off the stiff pace being set by BAT.

But they will surely be challenging for a third championship in four seasons when the silverware is handed out in late August.

In many ways Bournemouth, who began the day in a challenging third position, contributed to their own downfall - and a second consecutive home defeat in the all-day `time' pennant.

Shortly before lunch, they were well placed at 100-2 off 27 overs and 30 minutes after the break doing quite nicely at 167-3.

Shortly after, it all went horribly wrong ...

Teenager Nick Park (31) and skipper Matt Swarbrick (28) both made starts at the top of the Bournemouth order, but perished to loose shots.

Western Australian Adam Voges, though, oozed class, punishing the bad ball, hitting a six and 12 fours in his 73, probably his best Bournemouth innings so far.

But the game took a dramatic twist - and turn in Havant's favour - when the cultured Melville all-rounder miscued an intended leg shot off fellow Australian Matt Cox high to mid-wicket at 167-3.

Martin Miller (47) maintained the momentum, but when he generously `walked' to a catch behind to give off-spinner Cox his second wicket, Bournemouth fell to pieces.

They lost their next five wickets for 24 runs before finishing at 232-9 after 66 overs - a total they seldom looked capable of defending on a Chapel Gate run haven and with the lush outfield in prestine condition.

But his own admission, Cox (5-67), who hails from Melbourne, did not bowl particularly well, but his nap hand of wickets certainly had a major influence in Havant's eventual success.

Bournemouth knocked over Havant's openers, but were put to the sword by a slick third-wicket partnership between Wessex Industries man-of-the-match Richard Hindley (111) and Andy Perry (77), which yielded 157 runs and took the champions to the brink of a crushing victory.

The left-handed Hindley, who had scored an unbeaten 122 for Hampshire II against Surrey in the County Second XI Championship at Imber Court the previous day, is in the form of his life and batted quite superbly.

His 16 boundaries included shots all around the wicket, while Perry struck ten fours in a knock which suggested he is on his way to back to his best batting form.

The third-wicket pair, along with MCC YC's wicketkeeper Steven Snell, departed before Havant reached the target, but the damage had long be done by then ...

Havant had looked a class act. Bournemouth have some way to go before they can match it.