PHIL IS SARISBURY'S JEWELL IN THE TAIL: LIPHOOK ARE TIED UP

Rob Nicklin [Farnham Herald]

Tail-ender Phil Jewell hit eight runs off the last three balls of the match as Sarisbury Athletic tied with Village Cup quarter-finalists, Liphook & Ripsley – each side scoring 276-8 off their 50 overs in a Ripsley Park thriller.
Chasing down the target, Sarisbury’s response was marked by an excellent stand by Channel Islander Tom Nightingale (83) and former skipper Matt Journeaux (44), who marked his vacation return from school-teaching in the Emirates – the fourth-wicket pair accelerating the total from 80-4 to 176.
Chris Sanders (35 not out) and Tom Kitcher (31) brought the visitors closer, until Kitcher was bowled by Ryan Covey in the 47th over, the score on 255-7.
It left Sarisbury still needing another 22, but in a dramatic late rally,  Phil Jewell (14 not out) hit eight runs off the last three deliveries of the match, just one short of victory.
Earlier, Rob Nicklin cracked an outstanding 111 (16 fours) for Liphook, who beat previously undefeated Oxford Downs to reach the National Village Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.
Nicklin and the ever dependable Harry Munt (58) first had to retrieve Liphook after both openers fell cheaply, sharing a partnership of 113.
Nicklin was also well supported by Jonathan Pryce (39), making his first appearance of the season, a 96 run effort with Nicklin who, until caught by Ricky Rawlings, seemed set to push the total towards 300.
The result leaves second placed Sarisbury Athletic 17 points adrift of leaders Bournemouth, who pulled off a 61-run win over Andover at London Road.

Tom Nightingale [Martin Gray]