Porter's Premier Division Best Helps Academy Beat Havant
Jun 4 2013
Michael Porter struck a Premier Division best 83
Havant v Hampshire Academy
Southern Electric Premier League
Saturday 1 June
Havant Park
Summary: The Academy beat Havant by 30 runs
Hampshire Academy: 206-6
Havant: 176
Scorecard
Hampshire’s teenage academy cricketers may be smack in the middle of school examinations – but that didn’t prevent them from pulling off a massive shock by beating six-time ECB Southern Electric Premier League champions Havant by 30 runs.
“It was a fantastic team performance,” beamed 18-year old skipper Michael Porter, pictured, who underpinned the Academy’s 206-6 with a Premier Division best 83 before plotting Havant’s downfall in the field.
Havant collapsed from 80 without loss to 176 all out, with the academy spinners taking six of the wickets.
“Once we broke through, we kept them under pressure and they kept losing wickets every ten or so runs.
“We played Havant at their own game, using three spinners – and they all bowled every well.
“Oli Green’s only an occasional bowler, but he took 4-31, including two of the top order, while Mason Crane and Brad Taylor bowled effectively and Ryan Scott produced a timely spell of medium-pace and picked up two key middle-order wickets.”
The Young Royals didn’t start too well and were 17-2 after Ben Walker (2-42) removed openers Lewis McManus (17) and Green (0).
But Porter, with one massive six and 11 boundaries in his patient 83, and Tom Alsop (42) turned the tide with a third-wicket stand of 127.
With the promising Joe Weatherley scampering a run-a-ball 33 not out, the Academy went on to reach 206-6.
“Beating Bournemouth the previous week and then posting a 200-plus score against Havant sent our confidence soaring and we genuinely believed we could pull off a result at tea-time,” Porter said.
“The dressing room was like a school classroom, with lads snatching time for some last minute swatting up for today’s Biology, English literature and History exams, but we cleared the decks and concentrated on the cricket.”
When Pete Hopson (45) and Robert Gibson (44) took the Havant reply to 80-0, there appeared only one outcome.
But Havant lost their way when leg-spinner Crane had Gibson stumped and before too long 80-0 became 110-4 and later 137-6, Lewis McManus complementing the spinners with three smart stumpings.
Only Hampshire Under-16 captain Andy Gorvin (31) held firm as Havant’s middle and lower-order folded to 176 all out and give the Academy a cherished 30-run victory.
“We were absolutely elated. We’re the youngest side the Academy has ever put out – three of the lads are currently sitting GCSE examinations – and to beat a side of Havant’s pedigree is simply fantastic,” Porter enthused.
“The lads going into the exam room today will have a real spring in their step though what we achieved on the cricket field at Havant Park.”
Words: Mike Vimpany
Image: The News