Jacob Harris What a finish is in store to the Hampshire League, County Division One championship race !
Only seven points separate the top three clubs chasing the Holy Grail, with Parley (251) sporting the yellow jersey just ahead of Hook & Newnham Basics (245) and Gosport Borough, who lie one point further behind.
The final round of matches see Parley at St Cross Symondians III, Hook & Newnham Basics facing Ropley and Gosport hacking their way up the A36 to long relegated Shrewton.
Runners-up last summer, Parley strengthened their top table position with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Shrewton, who were bowled out for 94. Sam Collins (35) and Shane Green (28) did the rest.
Hook had to work a great deal harder to stay in touch – chasing down a formidable Longparish challenge of 265-7 to win by three wickets with 11 balls to spare.
Michael Taplin (41) and Dan Bearmark (40) set up Tommy Trinder (72) to provide Parish with a competitive total, but led by teenager Luke Simpson (74), Hook got in.
Ben Allnutt (42) and Matt Buckingham (34) did their bit.
But Gosport Borough lurk only one point behind after beating Alton II by 16 runs.
Greg Kitchen (44) and Charlie Creal (35) top scored for the Borough, whose progress was slowed by Nathan Vincent’s 4-50 return, but after Jacob Harris had taken 4-42, the Brewers were always going flat. They closed 188-9.
Early season pacemakers Sway won by two wickets chasing down Andover’s 216 (Bertie Lloyd 56) at London Road, where Will Millard (51) and Tim Noble (46) played key roles in the run chase.
Andy Marks kept Hursley Park afloat with an unbeaten 69 after Havant pair Pete Hayward (4-18) and Graham Burns (3-28 had made inroads, but 121 all out was never going to test the hosts. Andrew Galliers bankrolled an eight-wicket win with 66 not out.
St Cross Symondians stalwart Graham Barrett, affectionately known as G-man, struck a career-best 135 as his side plundered 343-5 against ten-man Ropley.
Josh Merluk (52), Dylan Clark (48) and Charlie Preston (55) weighed in before Brad Easton responded with 103 in Ropley’s 194 all out.
Island visitors Easton & Martyr Worthy were stumbling along at 117-7 when Ethan Brackstone (57) came to the rescue, but Ryde eased past their 208-9 on the back of Kerry Rice (65) and Shaun Tait (43).
Old Basing overhauled OTs & Romsey’s 188 to win by four wickets, while Bedhampton dismissed Burridge II for 142 before winning by seven wickets.
Only seven points separate the top three clubs chasing the Holy Grail, with Parley (251) sporting the yellow jersey just ahead of Hook & Newnham Basics (245) and Gosport Borough, who lie one point further behind.
The final round of matches see Parley at St Cross Symondians III, Hook & Newnham Basics facing Ropley and Gosport hacking their way up the A36 to long relegated Shrewton.
Runners-up last summer, Parley strengthened their top table position with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Shrewton, who were bowled out for 94. Sam Collins (35) and Shane Green (28) did the rest.
Hook had to work a great deal harder to stay in touch – chasing down a formidable Longparish challenge of 265-7 to win by three wickets with 11 balls to spare.
Michael Taplin (41) and Dan Bearmark (40) set up Tommy Trinder (72) to provide Parish with a competitive total, but led by teenager Luke Simpson (74), Hook got in.
Ben Allnutt (42) and Matt Buckingham (34) did their bit.
But Gosport Borough lurk only one point behind after beating Alton II by 16 runs.
Greg Kitchen (44) and Charlie Creal (35) top scored for the Borough, whose progress was slowed by Nathan Vincent’s 4-50 return, but after Jacob Harris had taken 4-42, the Brewers were always going flat. They closed 188-9.
Early season pacemakers Sway won by two wickets chasing down Andover’s 216 (Bertie Lloyd 56) at London Road, where Will Millard (51) and Tim Noble (46) played key roles in the run chase.
Andy Marks kept Hursley Park afloat with an unbeaten 69 after Havant pair Pete Hayward (4-18) and Graham Burns (3-28 had made inroads, but 121 all out was never going to test the hosts. Andrew Galliers bankrolled an eight-wicket win with 66 not out.
St Cross Symondians stalwart Graham Barrett, affectionately known as G-man, struck a career-best 135 as his side plundered 343-5 against ten-man Ropley.
Josh Merluk (52), Dylan Clark (48) and Charlie Preston (55) weighed in before Brad Easton responded with 103 in Ropley’s 194 all out.
Island visitors Easton & Martyr Worthy were stumbling along at 117-7 when Ethan Brackstone (57) came to the rescue, but Ryde eased past their 208-9 on the back of Kerry Rice (65) and Shaun Tait (43).
Old Basing overhauled OTs & Romsey’s 188 to win by four wickets, while Bedhampton dismissed Burridge II for 142 before winning by seven wickets.
