Havant cruise into final of Hampshire’s Under-17 Kerry Cup

Havant under-17s prior to their win over Fair Oak. Picture: Mike Vimpany

They restricted the visitors to 92-7 and polished off the target with six overs to spare, hard-hitting left-hander Ollie Perkins cracking 40.

Although Ben Smith (19) and Ravi Chahal (16) eased Oaks to 41-1, progress was relatively slow. And when three wickets fell for seven runs at the mid-point of the innings, any prospect of a competitive total effectively disappeared.

Spinners Freddie Gadd, Matt Hayward and Charlie Whitfield took two wickets each.

Opener Jack Lee holed out to the first ball he faced at the start of Havant’s reply, but by the end of opening over Perkins had lifted Sam Reed for a huge six out of the ground.

Perkins and Gadd (15) picked off anything loose as Havant progressed to 60 before losing their second wicket.

Perkins eventually skied a catch, but his lusty blows, aided by an unbeaten 21 from Darryn Stares, had already sealed Fair Oak’s fate.

Havant’s cup final opponents at May’s Bounty next Thursday afternoon will be either Hook & Newnham Basics or Parley, who meet at the KGV today (5pm).