Winchester's double woe

IT'S all going horribly wrong for newly promoted Winchester KS, who collapsed to a second consecutive Southern Electric Premier League defeat.

Another batting flop was the cause of a 73-run defeat by the Hampshire Academy side at River Park.

Now Winchester go into tomorrow's derby at Sparsholt's Norman Edwards Memorial Ground lacking confidence - and without influential captain Jimmy Taylor, who is playing for England's Non-League soccer team in the International against Scotland.

Ironically Winchester, responding to the county's 188 for nine, made a promising start against the Young Hawks.

But a 53-run opening stand between Paul Marks (35) and Dave Parsons floundered into an all-too-familiar collapse, with Winchester being bowled out for 115.

They lost three wickets for only five runs - two of them to Andover prospect James Manning - and their last runs for only four runs.

Off-spinner Irfan Shah (4 for 33) broke the opening partnership and snapped up the last three.

The Academy's 188 for nine had been built around Cove's Chris Benham (57) and West of England Under-15 prospect Peter Hammond (48), who shared a second-wicket stand of 75.

Raj Naik, jet-lagged after an overnight flight from India, chipped away, taking three wickets.

But, through Ian Hilsum (25 not out) and David Wheeler (22), the Academy built a match-winning 188 for nine.

l Winchester's early season agony continued with a four-wicket defeat by Burridge in the ECB Club Championships.

Paul Marks (77) and evergreen Phil Green (43) shared a century second-wicket partnership.

But Winchester found their 181 for five overhauled as Burridge clinched a third round trip to Andover - Neil Cunningham hitting 71 not out.

Teenage off-spinner Rhys Oxley took 3 for 41 for Winchester.

Andover booked their place in the next round with a Marc Kavanagh-inspired seven-wicket win at Ventnor.

Kavanagh belted 71 off just 46 balls in Andover's victory jog.