Hopson stars as Havant claim first Southern Premier League Cup win – but Burridge are trounced by St Cross 2nds

Pete Hopson scored an unbeaten half century as Havant romped to victory against Sparsholt. Pic Mick Young

He scored exactly 50 not out as Havant romped to an eight-wicket win against Sparsholt with almost 18 overs in hand.

Hopson whacked eight fours in his 47-ball innings, adding an unbroken 54 for the third wicket with former skipper Chris Stone (20 not out).

Earlier, current captain Chris Morgan and Freddie Gadd had shared six wickets as Sparsholt failed to take advantage of a good start.

Robbie Skeates and Josh May had put on 69 for the first wicket before Morgan brought himself into the attack as Havant’s sixth bowler.

He broke the partnership by trapping Skeates leg before and then had May caught by wicket-keeper Jeremy Bulled shortly after.

Morgan finished with 3-12 off six overs while Gadd bagged 3-31 as Sparsholt were restricted to 145-9 off 40 overs.

Harry Gadd wasted no time giving impetus to Havant’s reply, hitting 42 off 45 balls before being dismissed.

Havant face Portsmouth at St Helens next weekend - the two teams’ first competitive Southern Premier League meeting for 13 years.*

Ed Ellis compiled a half-century as St Cross 2nds hit top spot in the Southern Premier League Premier/Division 1 cup East group.

The batsman with five first class appearances to his name struck 67 as the Winchester-based club defeated Burridge by eight wickets to take over pole position from the Hampshire Academy.

Ellis, who made his first class outings for the Oxford MCCU and who has also played Minor Counties cricket for Dorset, hit 12 boundaries in his 81-ball innings.

St Cross were playing in the third tier of the SPL last season, winning promotion as runners-up.

But they are now top of a group including the first XIs of top flight clubs Burridge, Sarisbury, Hampshire Academy and Havant.

Skipper Hilio De Abreu (49) was the only Burridge batsman to offer much resistance after Simon Beetham (3-29) had dismissed top three Jack Paskins (17), Joe Collings-Wells (5) and Chris Blake (11).

David Orchard picked up 3-35 as Burridge were bowled out for 161 - St Cross helping them with 23 wides.

Burridge weren’t much better in the field - conceding 12 byes and 11 wides in a 30-run extras haul that helped St Cross race to their third straight SPL East win.

Ollie Southon clean bowled Kevin Neave (2) early on, but Ellis arrived to help opener Steven Hirst (55 not out) add 124 for the second wicket.