Dave Elliott [Farnham Herald] Old Tauntonians & Romsey edged 23 points clear of the immediate Southern Premier League Division 1 danger zone after a 39-run win at Village Cup finalists Liphook & Ripsley.
The victory has provided vital breathing space ahead of a potentially crucial relegation showdown with bottom-of-the-table Hartley Wintney at the Romsey Sports Centre on Saturday, 12.30.
But with Hartley boosting their own survival prospects by chasing down 323 to beat Andover at the weekend, OTs still have plenty of work to do.
Their top order laid the victory foundations at Ripsley Park, where Elliott Mitchell-Lee (70) and Jovan Dhariawal (33) eased OTR to 121-1 before Harry Tulk chipped in with a handy 44.
But veteran Hants 50-plus left-arm spin star Dave Elliott, left, (6-56) weighed in with his best SPL return to send OTs sliding from 188-4 to 232 all out.
Liphook were on the back foot directly Mitchell-Lee ran out Ryan Covey, but Rob Nicklin (35) and Harry Munt (42) hit back with a century stand.
Liphook lost direction when Pete Newman (2-47) removed the pair and led the hosts to slip to 118-5.
Jonathon Pryce kept the pot boiling with an unbeaten 41, but Rob Newman’s spell of 3-18 reduced Liphook to 193 all out.
The victory has provided vital breathing space ahead of a potentially crucial relegation showdown with bottom-of-the-table Hartley Wintney at the Romsey Sports Centre on Saturday, 12.30.
But with Hartley boosting their own survival prospects by chasing down 323 to beat Andover at the weekend, OTs still have plenty of work to do.
Their top order laid the victory foundations at Ripsley Park, where Elliott Mitchell-Lee (70) and Jovan Dhariawal (33) eased OTR to 121-1 before Harry Tulk chipped in with a handy 44.
But veteran Hants 50-plus left-arm spin star Dave Elliott, left, (6-56) weighed in with his best SPL return to send OTs sliding from 188-4 to 232 all out.
Liphook were on the back foot directly Mitchell-Lee ran out Ryan Covey, but Rob Nicklin (35) and Harry Munt (42) hit back with a century stand.
Liphook lost direction when Pete Newman (2-47) removed the pair and led the hosts to slip to 118-5.
Jonathon Pryce kept the pot boiling with an unbeaten 41, but Rob Newman’s spell of 3-18 reduced Liphook to 193 all out.
