Portsmouth & Southsea cricketers aiming for remarkable Southern Premier League double this weekend

Skipper Ben Saunders will first send into side into action against Bashley Rydal 2nds in the Southern Premier League Division 2/Division 3 grand final at St James’ on Saturday (12.30pm).

The following day, also at home, P & S take on Fair Oak (2.30pm) in the final of the SPL T20 Plate - the competition for first round losers in the main T20 Cup.

It is the second year running they P & S have reached the Plate final; last year they were beaten by the Hampshire Academy at The Ageas Bowl.

This year’s performances have been even more impressive bearing in mind P & S would have been playing in Division 3 of the SPL had the pandemic never struck.

And they only stayed in the SPL on the final day of the 2019 season after beating Purbrook while Fareham & Crofton were losing en route to relegation.

Both of this weekend’s opponents are Division 2 clubs, but P & S have already beaten higher division opposition since recreational cricket was given the green light to return in the middle of July.

They have beaten Division 2 club Hartley Wintney in the East group - one of five successive wins en route to topping their group - and have also defeated Liphook & Ripsley (Division 2) and Rowledge (Division 1) in the T20 Plate.

‘There’s a lot more belief in the squad now,’ said Saunders, who replaced Jack Davies as skipper just a few weeks into the truncated 2020 campaign.

‘It’s given us a lot more confidence for next season.

‘A lot of the team have come through the colts together, we’re just a big group of mates who enjoy each other’s company.

‘And because we’re friends we’re not afraid to be honest with each other.

‘The players are taking ownership of their game a lot more now.

‘We talk a lot about building partnerships, with bat and ball.’

As with most successful teams, P & S have fielded a settled side for most of the season.

Top runscorer Matt Benfield and Davies are the regular openers followed by youngsters Ollie Kanavan, 19, and wicket-keeper Alex Davidson, 17, at 3 and 4.

Tom Benfield and Dean Lee make up the middle order with Saunders at No 7.

Jono Willey and Jake Peach usually share the new ball, with Chris Turrell - the team’s leading SPL wicket-taker in 2020 - and Keiron Dunstan completing the 40-over side.

The only change for this Sunday’s T20 Plate final will see 15-year-old Umar Malik come in for Turrell.

That means Turrell’s last game for the club will be against Bashley, as he is leaving the Portsmouth area to take up a new job in Wales.

‘I think we’ve always had the potential,’ said Saunders. ‘It’s just that the players have stood up more this year, we’re playing more as a team.

‘Players are taking more responsibility and thinking about how they can contribute.’

He summed up: ‘We’re dreaming about winning two trophies, but we’re playing good sides - we’ll try and be competitive and see where that takes us.’

Bashley’s success in the West group was based around their bowling attack.

They skittled Trojans for 57 and Hythe & Dibden for 99, as well as dismissing Paultons for 149.

Leg-spinner Ethan Baker, just 14, was their leading wicket-taker with 14 at 10.21.

Remarkably, more than half of those came in one game - a startling burst of 8-15 off eight overs in the win against Hythe.

Bashley are a classic mix of youth and experience.

The likes of Simon Ridley, Neil Taylor and Simon Watkins are former 1st XI regulars.

Apart from Baker, youth is also provided by Josh Parsons and Will Tripcony who are also still at school.

They could field six teens against P & S this weekend.

P & S: Jack Davies, Matt Benfield, Ollie Kanavan, Alex Davidson, Tom Benfield, Dean Lee, Ben Saunders, Jake Peach, Jono Willey, Chris Turrell, Kieran Dunstan.

Bashley: James Turner, Will Tripcony, Patrick Lewis, Jacob Gordon, Simon Watkins, Saif Achakzai, George Wilson, Josh Parsons, Simon Ridley, Neil Taylor, Ethan Baker.