Hampshire Academy v Portsmouth - Match Report

A thoroughly proficient performance from the Hampshire Academy ended in victory over Portsmouth by the healthy margin of 130 runs at the Rose Bowl; earning the young Hawks maximum points, consolidating fifth position in the table and pleasing both Manager Tony Middleton and Captain Giles White.

Still unbeaten for the season at the toss, the Academy took first use of the pitch on the Rose Bowl's debut in Southern League "time" cricket. The Academy started off at a good tempo but lost some unnecessary wickets, being in some trouble at 100-5 forty five minutes before lunch. However, sensible batting from the immaculate Jimmy Adams (a chanceless 111 in 166 balls, 2 sixes, 10 fours) and the prudent Ian Hilsum (78 not out in 119 balls, 11 fours) rescued the situation as the former Hampshire colts put on 157 for the sixth wicket. 92 came in the last 12 overs, enabling Giles White to declare. Portsmouth tried eight bowlers in an attempt to stem the run flow and their over-rate was tremendous.

Chasing a target of 276 to win in a minimum of 58 overs, Portsmouth were never in the hunt, struggling to 69-5 against the bowling of David Griffiths, Luke Merry, the unlucky Matt Metcalfe and Hilsum. However, a stubborn sixth wicket stand of 63 between Hampshire old boy Lee Savident (44) and Hampshire Under 19 all-rounder Naqeeb Ali Mohamed raised hopes of Portsmouth securing a losing draw. But a collapse which saw the last five wickets fall for 13 runs in 5.2 overs against the off spin of Mitchell Stokes and the left arm in-swing of the returning Luke Merry put paid to any ideas Portsmouth may have had in that direction; Hampshire securing outright victory with 10.1 overs to spare.