Dramatic finish as Portsmouth CC hold nerve to beat higher division Havant in a friendly

After looking on course for a big win at one point, the hosts eventually prevailed in a dramatic encounter by just two runs at St Helens.

After posting 205-6 in 45 overs, Portsmouth struck early - Joe Kooner-Evans (4-33) dismissing opener Jeremy Bulled for a single.

Fellow opener Ben Walker (27) and George Metzger (20) couldn’t build on their starts as Havant lurched to 96-6 and 111-7.

Havant skipper Chris Morgan (49) top scored before he was bowled by Kooner-Evans.

A 10th wicket stand then threatened to give Havant a remarkable victory.

Coming together at 155-9, No 10 Alfie Taw (29 not out off 32 balls) and No 11 Bobby Gurden (17 off 25) put on 48,

They only needed three more for victory when Dan Wallis - the seventh bowler used by skipper Ben Duggan - struck with his 11th delivery, Gurden caught by Harrison Webb.

Jack Marston had earlier continued his bright pre-season form.

After scoring 45 (v Liphook) and 71 (v Portsmouth University), Marston top scored with 69.

He put on 55 for the first wicket with Duggan (27) and 86 for the second with Alex Hammond (52).

Havant handed a debut to former Hampshire Academy seamer Sonny Reynolds (6-1-27-0), while spinner Freddie Gadd (4-27 off nine overs) was their chief wicket-taker.

Alex Davidson whacked six sixes in a whirlwind innings to help Portsmouth & Southsea to a pre-season victory over higher division Waterlooville.

The wicket-keeper, arriving at the crease with his side 30-3, also struck 11 boundaries in racing to 94 off 60 balls.

But with a century in his sights, he was caught and bowled off the bowling of Ville captain Archie Reynolds, who had brought himself on as sixth change.

Davidson had scored his 94 out of a partnership of 120 for the fourth wicket with Chris Bollom (23)

P & S had been in early trouble when Jon Hudson (2-5 off five overs) dismissed opener Matt Benfield (1) and No 3 Ollie Kanavan (2) cheaply.

After Davidson’s fireworks, Umar Khyam Malik (29 not out) and Dean Lee (32) added 67 for the sixth wicket as P & S closed on 226-6 - Ville boosting that total with 20 wides.

P & S enjoyed an early boost when Jono Willey (3-36) trapped Reynolds leg before for just two.

Opener Alex Shepherd hit 34 before he fell to Matt Benfield (2-14). That made it 61-3, and Tim Jackson saw his stumps rearranged off the very next delivery.

Ashan Silva (27) and Hudson (22) hung around for a while, and Jack Pearce (46) and Dan Birch (12) added 50 for the eighth wicket

P & S skipper Ben Saunders took 2-32, including Namish Verma (17) who had scored a century in a friendly the previous week.

Ville’s innings closed on 198 when Haydn Knight was run out by Davidson.

P & S lift the curtain on their Southern Premier League Division 3 season this weekend at home to Hambledon.

*Dan McGovern hit a run-a-ball century as Hambledon defeated Bishop’s Waltham by 66 runs in a friendly.

The opener retired after reaching 101 off 100 deliveries.

He had previously put on 82 for the first wicket with Spencer Le Clerq (44), while skipper Indy Chakrabati (32 not out) helped lift the final score to 248-5 off 40 overs.

Waltham skipper Ben Medhurst hit three sixes in his unbeaten 52 as his side closed on 182-4.

Ben Reilly (2-32) was Hambledon’s main wicket-taker.