Liphook Stumble After Impressive Stand

After the commanding 2nd wkt stand of 141 by opener Chris Martin 66 and No 3 Giles Cover 70, Liphook's batsmen were unable able to establish themselves, leaving the Southern League Div 2 side just 12 runs short in a high scoring game on Hartley Witney’s Cricket Green, between two evenly matched sides.

Put into bat, Hartley soon lost opener Knibbs for 0 caught behind off Suman Ganguly. Thereafter, partner Hugo Hammond carried on with admirable patience with a 90 ball 64. Roy Cockram 20 and Jamie Teale 25 chipped in with useful runs but it was skipper Will Ross, with an even time undefeated 70, who led to HW total of 246-7.

Ganguly 3-35 and Sean Burton 2-31 were the pick of the bowlers and there was a wicket each for Chaz Janczur and Harry Munt. Enjoying a fine afternoon personally, Chris Martin had 4 victims behind the stumps.

The Liphook reply followed a similar pattern with Munt falling early. However, the visitors increasingly took control. Martin recorded his first 50 of the season with an excellent 66 (11 fours). Partner Giles Cover, following a long term hand injury and with only one net in preparation, played with fluency before he was bowled by Teale for a fine 10 boundary 70. At 161-1 hopes were high but both Martin and Cover went quickly, to leave two new batsmen at the crease at 167-3.

Thereafter, Liphook surrendered their wickets much too easily, none bettering Sean Burton’s 15. Returning seamers Athony Parson 3-59 and the impressive Jamie Teale 4-47, were the main destroyers. Liphook were dismissed for a creditable but finally disappointing 231. Both sides squandered runs in wides, those by Liphook proved to be the more telling.

Nevertheless the result leaves Liphook 2nd in the table. They entertain Waterlooville at Ripsley Park next Saturday at 12.30.