Gordon’s alive! Young Finn piles on agony as Havant are caned again

Havant suffered a second successive ECB Southern Premier League thrashing.

The joy of opening day victory over defending champions Burridge has quickly been eroded.

After enduring their highest-ever SPL loss - a 212-run hammering against Hampshire Academy - they went down to a 137-run defeat at new table-toppers Bashley.

After conceding 323-5 to the Academy in 50 overs, Havant’s bowlers were given another tough afternoon as their hosts posted 295-7.

Teenager Finn Gordon - only playing due to the Hampshire Academy’s game with Burridge being cancelled due to an unfit pitch - struck 81 at the top of the order before he was run out by Chris Morgan.

That made it 153-2 with Gordon having put on 94 for the second wicket with Jack Stearman (38) after opening with 59 alongside sibling Jacob Gordon (31).

Bashley skipper

Michael Porter pressed the accelerator, hitting five fours and four sixes in racing to 65 off 29 balls.

Chris Stone was Havant’s most successful bowler, though his three wickets did cost 72 runs.

Ex-havant skipper Ben Walker did not bat, but was prominent when the visitors replied.

He ran out opener Stuart Ransley (2) as Havant slipped to 21-2, captain Peter Hopson (10) having earlier fallen to James Trodd. And it was 36-3 when Walker, who shared the new ball with Trodd, bowled Stone for 14.

Louis Clayton (39) and Morgan (31) put on 72 for the fourth wicket before both fell with the score on 108 Walker taking the catch to remove the former off the bowling of Gordon.

With Josh Digby taking 4-11, Havant’s tail didn’t wag too much as the last five wickets mustered just 22 runs between them.

*St Cross' title challenge took a knock when a Harry Broderick inspired 78 off 50 balls pointed visitors South Wilts to a three-wicket win chasing 218.