Hook dedicate latest victory to young Jack Bland (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Cricketer's death casts shadow over cup win

8:00am Sunday 18th September 2011 in Cricket

HOOK and Newnham Basics dedicated their victory in the Bluebird Care Diamond Jubilee Guy Jewell Cup to the memory of tragic young cricketer Jack Bland.

Sunday’s four-run victory over Hartley Wintney at May’s Bounty was overshadowed by the news that Bland, a popular member of the club, had died the previous evening in a hit-and-run incident on the A287 near Odiham.

Hook captain Ben Thane said: “It was a real dampener on the day to find out the terrible news about young Jack Bland.

“He was a great lad and we are dedicating our cup victory to him as a tribute.”

Having been abandoned due to rain on August 28, Sunday’s rescheduled final was again affected by the weather, with the start of play put back an hour.

Hartley captain Will Phillips won the toss and put Hook in to bat on a damp wicket and Thane’s men were unable to score freely, being restricted to 105-7 from their 20 overs. Ross Hunter hit 30, while Tommy Flanders was the best of the Hartley bowlers, taking 3-26.

Hartley only needed to score at just over five an over but went out all guns blazing and found themselves three wickets down in no time.

Jamie Teale (29) led a recovery but they ended up four runs short, thanks in no small part to the bowling of Anik Divecha, who went for just eight runs from five overs, and man-of-the-match Thane (3-33) who claimed the scalps of Hartley’s three highest scorers.

Thane said: “It was a great all-round team performance.

“We got put in on a wicket that was really wet and I thought we were about 15 runs shy but we knew we would have a chance if we could get off to a flyer with the ball.

“It was a great win and a great finish to the season, especially having lost to Hartley in the final last year.”