ELECTRIC CUP FINAL : ABLE  EDDIE WINS IT FOR SOUTH WILTS

BAT Sports’ bid for a hat-trick of Southern Electric Cup final successes ended when they were rushed out for 76 and beaten by six wickets by South Wilts in last night’s final on a difficult Rose Bowl surface.

The final, played on the same strip as the Hampshire and Somerset batsmen had struggled for NatWest Pro-40 runs the previous day, had been expected to be a high scoring affair.

But an inconsistent, two-paced surface, coupled with the autumnal-like overhead conditions, made it a night for the seam bowlers, who often enjoyed extravagant movement.

The second ball of the match that BAT’s Lee Savident received from Alex Senneck and which lifted off a length into Tom Morton’s waiting gloves, set the tone for a bowler-dominated affair.

Dan Goldstraw, opening in a bizarre ‘pinch-hitter’ role, had his leg-stump flattened by Di-Morgan Rushbrook’s second delivery.

Cup holders BAT were 2-2 after only eight deliveries – and they never recovered.

Hampshire’s Greg Lamb dollied up a catch to mid-on attempting a pull and then Ricky Rawlins had two stumps knocked clean out of the ground by Senneck.

By the seventh over, BAT were six wickets down for 22 – Banks nicking a sharp ‘riser’ behind and Nigel Bungay edging Rushbrook to slip.

Adam Hayes, who hit two sixes in a gutsy 28, and Simon Preston doubled the sorry BAT total when Senneck and Rushbrook finished their respective five-over spells.

But Adie Holewell and Rob Wade took two wickets each as BAT sank to 75 all out – the lowest-ever cup final total in the 30-year history of the competition.

Charlie Duffell broke a finger taking a catch to dismiss Nick Jenkin, leaving South Wilts with ten fit batsmen.

Facing a second new ball, it was never an easy ride for the Salisbury club.

Indeed, opening pair Eddie Abel and Paul Draper faced 17 deliveries before the teenage left-hander actually put bat to ball.

The pair eked out 29 runs in nine overs before Goldstraw trapped Draper leg before.

With the skies darkening and drizzle in the air, BAT made South Wilts fight for every run.

When Greg Lamb bowled a 14^th over maiden to Abel, South Wilts were actually behind the clock at 49-1.

Abel, though, knew his job was to win the match for his side.

He batted thoughtfully; nothing extravagant – just picking up the runs and gradually pushing South Wilts towards their target.

He was unfortunate when a fierce straight drive, which Terry Rawlins deflected on to the stumps at the non-striker’s innings, caught Rushbrook marginally out of his ground at 56-2.

Two runs later, James Hayward played a poor shot and was bowled, but Abel went on to make a decisive 45 and take South Wilts to the brink of victory before he was neatly stumped off Lamb.