LECKFORD produced an outstanding all-round performance to clinch a 37-run victory over Havant 2nd XI in their opening match in Premier Division Three of the Southern Electric Premier League last Saturday.
Skipper Simon Reeves won the toss at Havant Park and elected to bat in his first match in charge and his decision to bat proved the correct one as openers Martyn Isherwood (38) and Mark Tomlinson (21) got their team off to the perfect start with a partnership of 61.
Neither batsmen looked in any trouble before Tomlinson was trapped lbw while Isherwood continued the good work the in-form Mike Howard (52).
Howard once again impressed, and his team mates will be hoping that he is happy to continue making the journey down from his new home in London each week to play for the local village side.
The second wicket partnership ended when Isherwood was bowled whilst attempting another booming drive, and Nick Bolshaw (7) almost immediately holed out on the line from a typically monstrous drive. Howard found another ally in new signing Mark Costin (25), and good running between the wickets saw the visitors progress to 153 at the 40 over stage.
Howard was furious with himself when he chipped a simple chance to mid-wicket after reaching his 50, but Miles Bulpitt (31) and Costin ensured that the momentum of the innings was not lost. Costin was eventually run out in the search for quick runs at the death and the Bulpitt cameo was brought to an end in the final over.
Left with two balls to face, Stuart Hicks promptly caressed the first to the mid-wicket boundary before being bowled trying to repeat the act off the final ball as Leckford posted a testing target of 216-7 for the home side.
Havant's reply got off to a flying start with openers Owen(26) and Greenfield (17) seemingly in a rush to get the game over and done with. It was not until the score had reached 56 that Bulpitt made the breakthrough with a fine caught and bowled to dismiss Owen, and quickly followed it by removing Greenfield's off-stump.
From then on Leckford did not put a foot wrong in the bowling and fielding departments. Andy Cattle (3-23) applied the brakes from one end with his left-arm spin Stuart Hicks (1-31) rolled back the years with a vintage display of swing bowling. Leckford knew things must have been going their way when Tomlinson held on to his first two catches in recent memory!
When Chris White (3-23) came on to dismiss Havant's skipper Matt Gover the game was all but over as a contest. With the home sides only real threat Owen Jones (54) shutting up shop, it was left to the returning Cattle and Bulpitt to wrap up proceedings for a jubilant Leckford side. The Havant innings was brought to end at 179 in the penultimate over as Cattle trapped Jones leg before.
lLeckford have progressed through to the third round of the National Village Knockout where they will play hosts to Rowlands Castle on Sunday, 26 May. Local rivals Penton were unable to raise a side for last weekend proposed second round game and Leckford were awarded the match.
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