HOOK and Newnham Basics lie fourth in a tight British Gas Southern League Division One promotion scrap after a thrilling three-wicket victory at Liphook and Ripsley, secured with three balls to spare.
They now have 157 points and are 18 adrift of Basingstoke & North Hants and Calmore Sports, who share top spot with 175 points from 11 games.
Liphook lost Rob Nicklin cheaply, but recovered as Ryan Covey (54) and Gabriel Broadhurst (39) added 78 for the second wicket, before the teenager and Suman Ganguly (22 from 28 balls) moved the total to 124.
The prized wicket of hard hitting all-rounder Ganguly was taken by a smart caught and bowled from left-armer Rhodes Franklin (3-40) after which wickets started to fall and Liphook slipped to 148-6. It was left to Grant Rouse (50) with a half century from 54 balls, which included three fours and to sixes, to help them to a score of 236-9.
Hook suffered the early loss of Josh Buckingham (6), but skipper Ben Thane (67) and Matt Love (33) built a platform. When Love was the second man the score had reached 83 and then Matt Buckingham (24) along with Thane took the total to 136.
The Hook captain was the fourth man out, making it 161-4, but from there his side dug in, as Nick Willcock (24), Kieran Thomson (12) and Richard Willcock (17) kept the scoreboard ticking over. Franklin (24 not out) and Anik Divecha saw the visitors over the line.
Third placed Bournemouth, who visit the KGV this Saturday, were indebted to Jake Hurley (38) for bailing them out of difficulty at 110-6 (Nick Park 27) against Portsmouth at Chapel Gate.
Teenage spinner Ethan Randell (4-32) had put them in a spot of trouble before Hurley (38) bailed them out and help post a winning 183-8.
Left-arm seamer Simon Woodruff took 4-43 as Portsmouth were dismissed for 158, Hampshire prospect Fraser Hay 42 top scoring in their 25-run defeat.
They now have 157 points and are 18 adrift of Basingstoke & North Hants and Calmore Sports, who share top spot with 175 points from 11 games.
Liphook lost Rob Nicklin cheaply, but recovered as Ryan Covey (54) and Gabriel Broadhurst (39) added 78 for the second wicket, before the teenager and Suman Ganguly (22 from 28 balls) moved the total to 124.
The prized wicket of hard hitting all-rounder Ganguly was taken by a smart caught and bowled from left-armer Rhodes Franklin (3-40) after which wickets started to fall and Liphook slipped to 148-6. It was left to Grant Rouse (50) with a half century from 54 balls, which included three fours and to sixes, to help them to a score of 236-9.
Hook suffered the early loss of Josh Buckingham (6), but skipper Ben Thane (67) and Matt Love (33) built a platform. When Love was the second man the score had reached 83 and then Matt Buckingham (24) along with Thane took the total to 136.
The Hook captain was the fourth man out, making it 161-4, but from there his side dug in, as Nick Willcock (24), Kieran Thomson (12) and Richard Willcock (17) kept the scoreboard ticking over. Franklin (24 not out) and Anik Divecha saw the visitors over the line.
Third placed Bournemouth, who visit the KGV this Saturday, were indebted to Jake Hurley (38) for bailing them out of difficulty at 110-6 (Nick Park 27) against Portsmouth at Chapel Gate.
Teenage spinner Ethan Randell (4-32) had put them in a spot of trouble before Hurley (38) bailed them out and help post a winning 183-8.
Left-arm seamer Simon Woodruff took 4-43 as Portsmouth were dismissed for 158, Hampshire prospect Fraser Hay 42 top scoring in their 25-run defeat.
