Carberry Makes his Mark... Against Hampshire!

Match Report: Havant v Hampshire Academy

Hampshire Academy v Havant
Southern Electric Premier League
Saturday 9 July 2011
The Rose Bowl Nursery Ground

Summary: Havant beat Hampshire Academy by nine wickets
Hampshire Academy: 186
Havant: 187-1

Michael Carberry’s build up to LV County Championship cricket continued in positive mode with an undefeated 82 in Havant’s nine-wicket ECB Southern Electric Premier League victory over the county’s Academy side.

It was only the Hampshire left-hander’s second innings since a long illness lay off -caused by a blood clot on the lung - sidelined him for months.

Carberry made 42 on his Rose Bowl Nursery Ground return in the Second XI Championship victory over Kent II last week and made a run-a-ball 82 not out for Havant – an innings which included 14 boundaries and had a double positive.

Firstly, it ensured Carberry spent more vital time at the crease and, secondly, his innings will have given Havant’s prospects of winning the Premier Division title a significant boost.

His presence in Havant’s colours certainly got the thumbs-up from 22-year old Southampton University student Pete Hopson, with whom Carberry opened the batting.

The pair were charged with chasing down the Academy’s 186 – a challenge they achieved in 27.2 overs.

Carberry and Hopson put on 107 in quick time – the Hampshire and England left-hander finding himself out-scored!

Hopson, who is having a superb season for the SPL leaders, cracked 70 of the 107 – but was full of praise for his team-mate.

“Michael helped me enormously out in the middle, providing me with tips on how to play certain types of bowling and generally giving me massive encouragement,” Hopson said.

Hopson eventually perished – caught behind by 16-year old Lewis McManus off Jack Wood – but Carberry saw the run chase through, finishing with 82 not out.

Havant off-spinning all-rounder and former one-time Hampshire player, Richard Hindley knows that Carberry’s presence was probably a one-off, but couldn’t have spoken more highly of his Havant Park appearance.

“His presence in the dressing room rubbed off on everyone. Michael was so professional in everything he did and it clearly lifted what is already a pretty happy changing room.

“I’d like to think that him playing for us will play a small part in re-establishing Michael Carberry back in the Hampshire side, where we want to see him doing well.”

Hindley (4-48) and medium-pace all-rounder Ben Walker (3-17) combined to have the Academy seven wickets down at lunch.

Will Marriott (40), Tim Ravenscroft (36) and Jake George (20) all made starts, but it was largely thanks to Chris Stone (43) that the Academy reached 186 all out.

It was all pretty academic after that, Carberry’s 107-run start with Hopson effectively settling affair before Stuart Ransley came to the crease to make 32 not out and get Havant across the line.

Words: Mike Vimpany

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