SPCL 1 - Bashley have Bournemouth revenge in mind

Bashley (Rydal) plan to have the Southern Electric Contracting Cup firmly in their grasp before they face neighbours Bournemouth in an ECB Premier League, Division 1 revenge clash at the Bashley Cricket Ground tomorrow (SAT), 11am.

The Foresters will be the proud holders of the SEPL knockout trophy for the second time in three seasons if they beat South Wilts in this evening's (FRI) final at the Hampshire Rose Bowl.

But they have a score to settle with Bournemouth, who skittled them for 101 before romping to a ten-wicket win at Chapel Gate earlier this season.

"That was probably our lowest point of the season," reflected Bash skipper Neil Taylor.

"Kristian Wilson returned his best Premier League figures and we just caved in.

Bashley go into tonight's final - provisionally scheduled for the main Rose Bowl arena - as firm favourites.

South Wilts, minus Hampshire left-armer Jimmy Tomlinson and all-rounder Paul Draper, have had their bowling attack seriously blunted.

"But they can all bat a bit," Taylor warns.

"South Wilts will be looking to rise to the occasion and we'll have to play to our full potential if we are going to win.

"Players like Jamie Glasson and Russell Rowe will thrive in a big match atmosphere - and we must match them."

Bashley will be at full strength for tomorrow's Premier League derby - the last of the all-day "time" matches.

The Premier League reverts to 50-over matches next weekend, with BAT Sports currently 16 points clear of Havant at the top.

Bournemouth, who checked BAT's amazing 15-match winning sequence last week, delay naming their team for the Bashley trip.

BAT Sports are back to full strength as they bid to step up their title challenge against Portsmouth at Southern Gardens.

Kirk Stewart, a key absentee in last week's drawn match at Bournemouth, returns to spearhead the BAT attack alongside 32-wicket Dan Goldstraw, who bagged 20 scalps last month alone.

Teenage duo Graham Noble and Ricky Rawlins also play, despite a heavy workload for Hampshire's successful Under-17 side.

"We are grateful to Raj Maru for allowing them both to play tomorrow," said BAT skipper David Banks, who has some catching up to do in the overall wicketkeeping award stakes.

"It's an ideal platform for these two lads to show Raj just what they can do, especially as the Hampshire Development Coach will be captaining the Portsmouth team."

Calmore Sports, minus newly-wed Mark Boston, can give BAT's back-to-back title hopes a boost if they can beat Havant at Loperwood Park.

Havant, 16 points behind, have a critical weekend, with Stanmore set to visit Havant Park for an ECB Club Championship quarter-final replay on Sunday, 1pm.

The teams began their last-eight qualifier in North London last Sunday - but the match was abandoned because of the dangerous state of the Stanmore pitch.

The ECB directed that the game should be replayed at Havant, who will receive Saffron Walden in the semi-finals on August 11 if they win.

Apart from Neil Cunningham, Burridge will be at full strength for the visit to Andover, where skipper Roger Miller faces a late check on a twinged hamstring picked up scoring a century at Havant last week.

Younger brother Mark is back in the side alongside Jerry Hayward and Ian Langdown, but Toby Radford is absent, as is university student Martin Docis, who is treading the boards in the musical Chicago.

"We didn't realize Martin had hidden stage talents, but he's pretty switched on musically," Miller explained.

Watching the outcome with interest will be Liphook & Ripsley who aim to enhance their own survival prospects at South Wilts.