
Promoted last season, South Wilts face a battle to preserve their Southern Premier League Division 2 status in the next two weeks.
A four-wicket defeat by Waterlooville, which coincided with relegation rivals Basingstoke & North Hants II beating Langley Manor, has left South Wilts two points adrift at the basement with two games to play.
Quite simply, they must out-point Basingstoke in the next fortnight.
They visit promotion contenders St Cross Symondians II on Saturday – Basingstoke are at Paultons – before already relegated Langley Manor come to Bemerton. Basingstoke‘s last match is against champions designate Totton & Eling.
South Wilts were on the back foot from the start of their rain trimmed 40-over affair against the Ville, who quickly prised out openers Sam Arnold and Jack Stearman.
Joe Cranch (46) and Tom Pearce (34) effected repairs before the pair departed in quick succession, along with Rob Pitman – three wickets falling for two runs from 103-2.
Steve Riddle (38) pushed the score along, but South Wilts found their 163-8 overhauled with seven balls to spare, a maiden SPL half-century by Tommy Greene, left above, (57) underpinning their victorious 165-6.
Basingstoke nipped ahead of South Wilts II in the survival stakes when they chased down relegated Langley Manor’s 198-9 to win by five wickets.
Conor Browne (57) and Elliot Ponting (32) eased Langley Manor to 100-2, but it needed an unbeaten 40 from Jordie Smith to guide the visitors to a competitive total.
Teenager Josh May (62) led Basingstoke’s response, but it was Scott Dyer’s run a ball 45 not out that got the side home with four balls to spare.
A four-wicket defeat by Waterlooville, which coincided with relegation rivals Basingstoke & North Hants II beating Langley Manor, has left South Wilts two points adrift at the basement with two games to play.
Quite simply, they must out-point Basingstoke in the next fortnight.
They visit promotion contenders St Cross Symondians II on Saturday – Basingstoke are at Paultons – before already relegated Langley Manor come to Bemerton. Basingstoke‘s last match is against champions designate Totton & Eling.
South Wilts were on the back foot from the start of their rain trimmed 40-over affair against the Ville, who quickly prised out openers Sam Arnold and Jack Stearman.
Joe Cranch (46) and Tom Pearce (34) effected repairs before the pair departed in quick succession, along with Rob Pitman – three wickets falling for two runs from 103-2.
Steve Riddle (38) pushed the score along, but South Wilts found their 163-8 overhauled with seven balls to spare, a maiden SPL half-century by Tommy Greene, left above, (57) underpinning their victorious 165-6.
Basingstoke nipped ahead of South Wilts II in the survival stakes when they chased down relegated Langley Manor’s 198-9 to win by five wickets.
Conor Browne (57) and Elliot Ponting (32) eased Langley Manor to 100-2, but it needed an unbeaten 40 from Jordie Smith to guide the visitors to a competitive total.
Teenager Josh May (62) led Basingstoke’s response, but it was Scott Dyer’s run a ball 45 not out that got the side home with four balls to spare.