Captain Jack Budd showed the way with a sparkling all-round individual performance as Langley Manor checked South Wilts II’s British Gas Southern League Division 2 relegation fight-back at Bemerton.
South Wilts, who have been struggling in the danger zone all season, were chasing a sixth straight win, but having posted 200 were pipped by two wickets off the penultimate ball.
Nonetheless, they remain 11 points clear of the drop zone, but face a demanding visit to promotion chasing OTs & Romsey this Saturday.
Budd took three wickets, snapped up three catches and spearheaded the run chase with a fine 79 before teenager Elliot Ponting kept his cool with an unbeaten 30 to get the Manor across the line.
Steve Riddle (42), Rob Pittman (42) and Tom Pearce (41 not out) eased South Wilts to 155-4, but the last six wickets fell for 45 runs, three to Budd (3-24), who promptly lost three partners when Langley Manor replied.
Matt Burton (2-37) took two of the wickets, but Budd then shared a key 70-run stand with Steve Harris (35) before falling himself at 169-5 as one of Sam Pittman’s four victims off the left-arm spin of Tom Pearce (2-32).
Langley added another 27 before losing three more wickets – two to Army all-rounder Stephen Booth (2-47) – to leave the visitors 188-8.
But the bespectacled Ponting belied his tender years, seeing the Manor home with a mature 30 not out, the winning runs coming off the penultimate ball of a pulsating match.
South Wilts, who have been struggling in the danger zone all season, were chasing a sixth straight win, but having posted 200 were pipped by two wickets off the penultimate ball.
Nonetheless, they remain 11 points clear of the drop zone, but face a demanding visit to promotion chasing OTs & Romsey this Saturday.
Budd took three wickets, snapped up three catches and spearheaded the run chase with a fine 79 before teenager Elliot Ponting kept his cool with an unbeaten 30 to get the Manor across the line.
Steve Riddle (42), Rob Pittman (42) and Tom Pearce (41 not out) eased South Wilts to 155-4, but the last six wickets fell for 45 runs, three to Budd (3-24), who promptly lost three partners when Langley Manor replied.
Matt Burton (2-37) took two of the wickets, but Budd then shared a key 70-run stand with Steve Harris (35) before falling himself at 169-5 as one of Sam Pittman’s four victims off the left-arm spin of Tom Pearce (2-32).
Langley added another 27 before losing three more wickets – two to Army all-rounder Stephen Booth (2-47) – to leave the visitors 188-8.
But the bespectacled Ponting belied his tender years, seeing the Manor home with a mature 30 not out, the winning runs coming off the penultimate ball of a pulsating match.
