Bittersweet weekend as Havant exit national cup

Havant all-rounder Andy Gorvin Picture: Allan Hutchings

The Surrey League champions chased down Havant’s target of 208 with three wickets remaining to advance to the last four of the prestigious competition.

But while Sunday brought disappointment, the Southern League premier division leaders tasted familiar victory on Saturday.

All-rounder Andy Gorvin played a key role with ball and bat in the visitors’ six-wicket league triumph at Ventnor.

After claiming a five-wicket haul, Gorvin hit an unbeaten fifty (54 not out) to support opener Peter Hopson’s classy knock of 94 as Havant reached the victory target of 181 with relative ease.

Burridge made light work of New Milton to record a thumping nine-wicket victory on their travels.

Nick McMurray claimed a five-wicket haul as the hosts, who elected to bat, were bowled out for a pitiful 76.

Rick Ankers (30) and Joe Collings-Wells (40) saw Burridge claim an emphatic and impressive win.

In division one, Henry Farrant (72) and overseas batsman Fraser Hay (67) both caught the eye as Portsmouth (178 for two) won by eight wickets at Liphook & Ripsley.

Mbulelo Nkomo hit 66 as Hambledon chased down a victory target of 147, for the loss of five wickets, to claim victory at Sparsholt in division two.

Stand-in skipper Rob Atkins (three not out), who earlier donned the wicketkeeper’s gloves, saw the visitors home alongside Indy Chakrabati (10 not out).

Lee Harrop was the star of the show for Gosport Borough as he hit a superb century (101) in their 50-run division three victory at Fair Oak.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat, with opener Harrop helping them to post a 228-run total, which proved too much for Fair Oak.

James Scutt’s 70-run haul proved in vain as Waterlooville (237 for seven) were beaten by 45 runs at Hursley Park.

The visitors, who chose to field first, were always up against it after Hursley posted a daunting target of 282 for five.

Havant II (169 for nine) beat Basingstoke & North Hants II by 51 runs as Richard Hindley struck 89 with the bat before snaring two wickets in a man-of-the-match performance.