Southern Electric Cup 2004

BAT Sports carried off the Southern Electric Cup at the Rose Bowl last night (mon) after beating Portsmouth by 32 runs in a largely one-sided final.

The margin of BAT’s victory was arguably greater than the scores suggest - the reigning Premier League champions winning the game at a relative canter after posting a handsome 172-5 off 20 overs.  

Portsmouth’s hopes of challenging the target effectively disappeared when Lee Savident, the only player capable of causing an upset, holed out to deep mid-off in only the second over of their reply.

They quickly dipped to 13-2 and, having struggled to 59-2 after 12 overs, launched a late rally to finish a respectable 140-6.

But the match was over as a meaningful contest long before then.

BAT, who had never previously reached the final, had been saved from defeat by the rain in their original semi-final at Havant two weeks ago.

But, buoyed by an emphatic victory in last week’s replay, they were never under any real pressure against a disappointing Portsmouth side that appeared to lack any real spark.

Once Neal Parlane and Damian Shirazi established themselves at the crease, Portsmouth were always chasing the game.

“Neal and Damian batted well and pressurised the fielders all the time; we never managed to do that at all,” lamented Portsmouth vice-captain Paul Ancell.

The openers were able to score at six and seven runs an over, sometimes more, for much of their 98-run partnership, which really began to flourish when Parlane opened up on Savident, launching the former Hampshire all-rounder for one massive six over mid-wicket and several other fiercely struck boundaries.

Shirazi (31) played an effective support role, despite suffering from a splitting headache.

Their partnership was eventually broken in the 12th over when Shirazi - who missed the BAT celebrations to join the Hampshire 2nd XI squad in Cardiff for today’s Second XI Championship match against Glamorgan - was bowled by Ancell.

Richard Kenway followed 13 runs later, while Parlane was run out for 77 - an innings which included a six and eight fours - in the 16th over with the BAT score on 123-3.  

Adam Sharp and Adam Hayes perished in the quest for quick runs to leave BAT 141-5 - and in need of a late injection to strengthen their grip on the game.

They got it in the form of a blistering late cameo from Ricky Rawlins, who brought the large sun-baked crowd to its feet in quite sensational manner.

Annoucing his intentions with consecutive boundaries off James Manning, Rawlins smashed 24 runs off Peter Hayward’s final over.

The City of Portsmouth hockey star was hit for a massive six, a two, two fours, a two and another huge six, which sailed over the head of Manning on the deep long-on boundary.

Rawlins, who celebrates his 18th birthday tomorrow, hit 31 off nine balls and BAT - at 172-5 - were virtually home and dry.

It really was all over in the second over of Portsmouth’s reply.

Parlane set the trap for the big-hitting Savident by posting Richard Kenway on the far long-off boundary.

And Savident took the bait - hitting Ben Tait straight down Kenway’s throat !

Portsmouth’s dressing room fell silent.

The city club, who twice lifted the trophy in the mid-nineties, dropped to 13-2 upon Matt Scott’s dismissal.

They made little headway against the teasing Terry Rawlins, whose five overs of left-arm spin included a maiden and cost a meagre 14 runs.

Eastern Province opener Carl Bradfield, who batted all 20 overs for his 58 not out, and the more enterprising Michael Barnes (39) took Portsmouth’s reply to 96.

But, by the time Barnes dollied up a catch to Rawlins at cover, 15 overs had elapsed.

Portsmouth’s scoring increased as BAT took their foot of the gas and, by the end of an anti-climatic 20-over session, they reached a respectable 140-6.  

Overall, they were a well beaten side ...

Scorecard

Southern Electric Cup final
Rose Bowl - 2 August 2004

BAT Sports
D Shirazi            b Ancell               31
* N Parlane            run out              77
R Kenway            c Bradfield b Savident              5
D Banks            not out                            5
A Sharp            c Barnes b Ancell              6
A Hayes            lbw Manning                         1
R Rawlins            not out                          31

Extras                                                   16

Total (5 wkts)(20 overs)              172

DNB: G Noble, + N Bungay, T Rawlins, B Tait.

Fall: 98, 111, 123, 139, 141.

Bowling: J Manning 5-0-34-1, P Hayward 5-0-50-0,

L Savident 5-0-38-1, P Ancell 5-0-43-2.

Portsmouth

* L Savident            c Kenway b Tait            1
C Bradfield            not out                          58
M Scott                        b T Rawlins                        5
M Barnes            c T Rawlins b Banks   39
J Manning            b Shirazi              12
 Moon             run out                          1
+ S Lavery            b Banks                                    14

Extras                                                   10

Total (6 wkts)(20 overs)              140

DNB: C Moon, D Oliffe, P Hayward, P Ancell.

Fall: 5, 13, 96, 121, 122, 140.

Bowling: T Rawlins 5-1-14-1, B Tait 5-0-25-1,

D Shirazi 5-0-51-1, D Banks 5-0-45-2.

Umpires: Denis Emery and Jeff Rees.

BAT Sports won by 32 runs.

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