George Marshall, an accomplished 84 for Hambledon [Martin Fisher pictures]
Hambledon lost four wickets - and hit a six - off the last seven balls in a bizarre finale to their Southern Premier Division 1 match against third-placed Calmore Sports at Ridge Meadow.
Set a reduced target of 188 off 38 overs, Hambledon worked themselves into a promising position at 137-3 when left-hand opener George Marshall fell to off-spinner Liam Carty for an excellent run-a-ball 84, which included two sixes and seven fours.
Set a reduced target of 188 off 38 overs, Hambledon worked themselves into a promising position at 137-3 when left-hand opener George Marshall fell to off-spinner Liam Carty for an excellent run-a-ball 84, which included two sixes and seven fours.
 Calmore Sports spin pair Liam Carty (above) and Mark Lavelle (right) shared six Hambledon wickets. Lavelle kept a cool head as Hambledon made a valiant attempt to win a pulsating match in the final over. Martin Fisher photos. |  |
Carty (3-25) and Mark Lavelle (3-30) began to create inroads, but when skipper Spencer LeClercq planted Casey South Melbourne spinner Liam O'Connor for six after 37.3 overs, the Dons were 176-5, not far away from landing a shock victory.
Here's the final dramatic balls of a nail biting finish -
37.4 overs - dot ball
37.5 overs - LeClercq hits a single
Final ball of 36th over - O'Connor takes a return catch off Mark Butcher. Hambledon 177-6, needing 12 runs to win off Lavelle's final over.
38.1 overs - LeClercq hits a single. 178-6.
38.2 overs - Seb Rowland is caught first ball by Ben Johns at deep mid-wicket. 178-7.
38.3 overs - Teenage Oli Bembridge hits a single
38.4 overs - LeClercq hits a big six over long-on. 185-7 (three to win off two balls)
38.5 overs - LeClercq drives to deep cover-point, runs one, but is run out by a terrific throw by Ben Fisher as he attempts a second. 186-8.
Final ball of 38th over - Hambledon need two runs to win - James Restell is bowled by Lavelle. 186-9. Calmore Sports win by one run.
The final over produced nine runs and three wickets and more heartbreak for Hambledon, who suffer a second consecutive last ball defeat and are now on the brink of relegation after two back-to-back promotions from Division 3.
Here's the final dramatic balls of a nail biting finish -
37.4 overs - dot ball
37.5 overs - LeClercq hits a single
Final ball of 36th over - O'Connor takes a return catch off Mark Butcher. Hambledon 177-6, needing 12 runs to win off Lavelle's final over.
38.1 overs - LeClercq hits a single. 178-6.
38.2 overs - Seb Rowland is caught first ball by Ben Johns at deep mid-wicket. 178-7.
38.3 overs - Teenage Oli Bembridge hits a single
38.4 overs - LeClercq hits a big six over long-on. 185-7 (three to win off two balls)
38.5 overs - LeClercq drives to deep cover-point, runs one, but is run out by a terrific throw by Ben Fisher as he attempts a second. 186-8.
Final ball of 38th over - Hambledon need two runs to win - James Restell is bowled by Lavelle. 186-9. Calmore Sports win by one run.
The final over produced nine runs and three wickets and more heartbreak for Hambledon, who suffer a second consecutive last ball defeat and are now on the brink of relegation after two back-to-back promotions from Division 3.
 Young Aussie Liam O'Connor drives on the off-side |  .. then salutes his 50. |
The fifth Division 1 match produced a crushing eight-wicket win for Portsmouth over Sarisbury Athletic, who were dismissed for 112 (Nathan Feltham 44) at Allotment Road.
Andrew Marston took 3-16 for Portsmouth before Ben Duggan (42) and Fraser Hay (34 not out) knocked the runs off.
Andrew Marston took 3-16 for Portsmouth before Ben Duggan (42) and Fraser Hay (34 not out) knocked the runs off.
