Bishops Waltham’s new found County Division 1 status is under threat after a run of five successive defeats has seen them sucked into the relegation zone.
They have only three wins to their credit in ten outings and were searching for their first victory since June 11 when fourth-placed Hook& Newnham Basics II visited Albany Road today.
A narrow four-run defeat by promotion chasing Purbrook has left Bishop’s precariously placed third from bottom in the three-down danger zone.
Winless Totton & Eling are near certainties for the drop, but any two of six struggling teams could occupy the other drop places.
Promoted as runners-up to United Services last season, Bishops Waltham almost pulled off a surprise result at promotion chasing Purbrook, where they lost by four runs.
They had Purbrook in a spot of bother at 56-4 but ended up chasing 222 after Sean Figgins (41) and Clark Harding (44) had pulled the hosts out of the mire.
Ross Bullard (43) and Adam Wymbs (30) had Bishops comfortably placed at 71-2, but nerves became frayed in both camps as the visitors – having needed 11 to win off the last two overs – required a six off the last ball and closed four behind at 218-9.
It didn’t help Bishops Waltham’s cause that fellow strugglers Andover and Burridge both won.
Andover have won their last three games, but losing six of their opening seven means they entertained Portsmouth & Southsea today still stuck in the bottom two.
Martin Roberts hit 110 (two sixes and 11 fours) as Andover chased down Ventnor’s 272-6 at Steephill.
Burridge posted 269-6 (Simon Beavis 66) at Burnaby Road, where they dismissed early season leaders United Services for 222.
Sarisbury Athletic must have fancied their chances of joining the win brigade when they put 282-6 (Jamie Dunn 66) on the board against Fareham & Crofton at Allotment Road.
But Fareham got home by two wickets, with Hampshire Under-15 all-round prospect Oli Southon hitting a match winning 82.
Ellingham continued their downward spiral with a 37-run defeat against fourth-placed Hook and Newnham Basics II at the King George V Ground.
Hook’s 258-8 was based around Graham Buckingham (97) and Andrew Darmody (52).
Ellingham’s valiant chase was undone by Jack Campbell, who celebrated his first Hook II appearance of the summer with a 6-19 return.
“Jack bowls stump-to-stump seam-up. He also smashed 25 in the last four overs of our innings to help us to the total of 258,” said wounded Hook skipper Kevin Light, who fractured his thumb during the game.
Ashley Collinson bagged his maiden New Milton century in the 313-9 run mauling of Totton & Eling’s attack at Fernhill.
He hit 114 and shared a formidable 165-run partnership with Oli Shrubsole (57), who added a 4-18 return to his half-century in Milton’s comfortable victory.
Shrubsole, who joined Milton from Parley this season, has also been producing some fine individual performances for Dorset’s Under-17 team.
At the current rate of progress, Ropley’s South African Tim Niemand will probably top the CD1 batting charts, though being overseas he won’t be eligible for any awards.
He plundered 114 (five sixes and 13 fours)and joined Will Gabb (79) in a 313-run spree at Shrewton.
The Wiltshire side responded with 221, with Will Sleeman (77) and Dan Bingley (52) prominent before Will Harries biffed an entertaining 40 not out to boost Shrews’ bonus point tally.
Ropley are now fifth in the log – principally on the back of Niemand’s runs ...
Promotion chasing Portsmouth & Southsea were looking down the barrels of defeat at 114-7 against visiting Old Tauntonians & Romsey II.
But were rescued by Sayeed Shadid (89 not out) and Ben Saunders (70), who both made career-best scores in an amazing 163-run eighth-wicket stand (probably a league record) which saw the Southsea side to 289-8.
“They played the knocks of their lives,” said P & S skipper Kieron Dunstan, whose side went on to win by 85 runs.
Alton II, who host P & S on August 13, still lead the field by 17 points after Richard Anthony (75) and Howard Gadsby (66) shared an unbroken 162-run stand in the eight-wicket win at St Cross Symondians III.
In-form Steve Berryman (58) and Roly Fowler (40) top scored in Symondians’ 212-9.
They have only three wins to their credit in ten outings and were searching for their first victory since June 11 when fourth-placed Hook& Newnham Basics II visited Albany Road today.
A narrow four-run defeat by promotion chasing Purbrook has left Bishop’s precariously placed third from bottom in the three-down danger zone.
Winless Totton & Eling are near certainties for the drop, but any two of six struggling teams could occupy the other drop places.
Promoted as runners-up to United Services last season, Bishops Waltham almost pulled off a surprise result at promotion chasing Purbrook, where they lost by four runs.
They had Purbrook in a spot of bother at 56-4 but ended up chasing 222 after Sean Figgins (41) and Clark Harding (44) had pulled the hosts out of the mire.
Ross Bullard (43) and Adam Wymbs (30) had Bishops comfortably placed at 71-2, but nerves became frayed in both camps as the visitors – having needed 11 to win off the last two overs – required a six off the last ball and closed four behind at 218-9.
It didn’t help Bishops Waltham’s cause that fellow strugglers Andover and Burridge both won.
Andover have won their last three games, but losing six of their opening seven means they entertained Portsmouth & Southsea today still stuck in the bottom two.
Martin Roberts hit 110 (two sixes and 11 fours) as Andover chased down Ventnor’s 272-6 at Steephill.
Burridge posted 269-6 (Simon Beavis 66) at Burnaby Road, where they dismissed early season leaders United Services for 222.
Sarisbury Athletic must have fancied their chances of joining the win brigade when they put 282-6 (Jamie Dunn 66) on the board against Fareham & Crofton at Allotment Road.
But Fareham got home by two wickets, with Hampshire Under-15 all-round prospect Oli Southon hitting a match winning 82.
Ellingham continued their downward spiral with a 37-run defeat against fourth-placed Hook and Newnham Basics II at the King George V Ground.
Hook’s 258-8 was based around Graham Buckingham (97) and Andrew Darmody (52).
Ellingham’s valiant chase was undone by Jack Campbell, who celebrated his first Hook II appearance of the summer with a 6-19 return.
“Jack bowls stump-to-stump seam-up. He also smashed 25 in the last four overs of our innings to help us to the total of 258,” said wounded Hook skipper Kevin Light, who fractured his thumb during the game.
Ashley Collinson bagged his maiden New Milton century in the 313-9 run mauling of Totton & Eling’s attack at Fernhill.
He hit 114 and shared a formidable 165-run partnership with Oli Shrubsole (57), who added a 4-18 return to his half-century in Milton’s comfortable victory.
Shrubsole, who joined Milton from Parley this season, has also been producing some fine individual performances for Dorset’s Under-17 team.
At the current rate of progress, Ropley’s South African Tim Niemand will probably top the CD1 batting charts, though being overseas he won’t be eligible for any awards.
He plundered 114 (five sixes and 13 fours)and joined Will Gabb (79) in a 313-run spree at Shrewton.
The Wiltshire side responded with 221, with Will Sleeman (77) and Dan Bingley (52) prominent before Will Harries biffed an entertaining 40 not out to boost Shrews’ bonus point tally.
Ropley are now fifth in the log – principally on the back of Niemand’s runs ...
Promotion chasing Portsmouth & Southsea were looking down the barrels of defeat at 114-7 against visiting Old Tauntonians & Romsey II.
But were rescued by Sayeed Shadid (89 not out) and Ben Saunders (70), who both made career-best scores in an amazing 163-run eighth-wicket stand (probably a league record) which saw the Southsea side to 289-8.
“They played the knocks of their lives,” said P & S skipper Kieron Dunstan, whose side went on to win by 85 runs.
Alton II, who host P & S on August 13, still lead the field by 17 points after Richard Anthony (75) and Howard Gadsby (66) shared an unbroken 162-run stand in the eight-wicket win at St Cross Symondians III.
In-form Steve Berryman (58) and Roly Fowler (40) top scored in Symondians’ 212-9.