Graham Burns takes career best six-wicket haul as Havant 2nds thrash Portsmouth in pre-season friendly

Graham Burns took career best figures of 6-4 for Havant 2nds against Portsmouth 2nds. Picture: Mick Young

After Havant had posted 253-3, Burns tore through the Portsmouth top and middle order to return figures of 7-3-4-6.

They beat his previous best figures of 6-16 for Havant 2nds against Totton & Eling 2nds in 2015.

Portsmouth had begun well enough but 41-1 quickly became 49-6 and 64-6 became 64-8.

The three batsmen at Nos 5-7 - captain Simon Jones (1), Matt Chapman (0) and Jack Collett (6) - were all caught by Oliver Jones.

Aaron Patel (37) and Matthew Walton (28) added 67 for the ninth wicket before the latter was stumped by Simon Loat off Charlie Whitfield.

Havant won by 122 runs with Portsmouth 131 all out.

Earlier, Loat had retired on 101 - his third century for the club - after putting on 143 for the first wicket with Andrew Galliers (76). Warren Turner ended on 37 not out.

Coincidentally, Loat’s career best remains the unbeaten 121 he scored for the 2nds in the same match in which Burns bagged 6-16.

Loat was again in the runs when Havant tied a Sunday friendly against a Hampshire Development U16 XI.

This time he batted at No 9 and hit an unbeaten 57 as the hosts recovered from a poor start to set up the dramatic finale.

Replying to Hampshire’s 257 all out target, Havant sagged from 50-2 to 52-5.

Skipper Chris Morgan started the recovery in partnership with Walker, who was keeping wicket and batting down at No 7.

Together, the vastly-experienced pair added 111 for the sixth wicket before Morgan fell one run short of his half-century for the second time in two days.

Walker went on to top score with 60 off 90 balls, though Havant still looked on course for defeat at 193-8.

However, Loat added 39 for the ninth wicket with Darryn Stares (11) and brought the scores level with an unbroken 25-run stand for the last wicket with Matt Hayward.

Loat struck seven fours and a six in his match-saving 38-ball innings.

Morgan (4-29) had been his side’s leading wicket-taker, with Sam Ruffell (77) top scoring for the Hampshire youngsters.