Wet weather was threating to sour a potentially thrilling ‘across the board’ climax to the ECB Southern Premier League today.
As the curtain came down on the season, all four championship titles were up for grabs, together with three sets of promotion places, and relegation issues in the second and third divisions.
But, with heavy rain forecast for mid-afternoon, the calculators were poised and ready, with the umpires busy brushing up on the rain rules.
Havant, needing just two points, were almost home and dry in their quest to win a first ECB Premier Division title in five years, Burridge needing to dismiss the leaders for less than 150 and win by seven or more wickets if they were to seize the crown.
Ventnor, victorious at long last against New Milton last weekend, have remained at the bottom all summer long, and can return to their iconic Steephill bowl and rebuild for the future.
In Division 1, the feeder league into the ECB Premier, four clubs went into their respective final games with prospects of ending the day as champions.
Freshly installed as leaders, Hook & Newnham Basics could hardly have asked for a tastier finale than the championship crown on offer and arch local rivals Basingstoke & North Hants providing the opposition at the KGV !
Two points ahead at the start of play, Hook needed to out-point fallen leaders Sarisbury Athletic, who faced a formidable final hurdle at in-form and fourth-placed Bournemouth, who still harboured a mathematical chance.
If Hook did go on and win the title, it would be poetic justice after New Milton beat them in the final silverware showdown to the 2015 season.
Andover, effectively only four points behind the lead pair, could still have snatched the title at the 11th hour.
If both Hook & Newnham Basics and Sarisbury Athletic lost their final games, the Lions would become championships themselves – if they won at Portsmouth.
Bournemouth, reflecting ruefully on the number of potential wins that slipped through their fingers, needed a significant victory over Sarisbury at Chapel Gate.
Teenage left-arm spinner Dominic Clutterbuck, lead wicket-taker in SPL1, is to have a trial with Sussex shortly.
OTs & Romsey and Totton & Eling have long since been relegated from SPL1, but the battle to replace them was still bubbling away with the Division 2 title race still unresolved at lunchtime today.
Eight points ahead, leaders Calmore Sports were in the box seat, but to be champions they must win their final match at the BCG, where Bashley (Rydal) II have been fighting a desperate but positive battle against relegation.
Second placed Tichborne Park needed to beat stumbling Trojans to prevent Hambledon from pinching the second promotion spot with a win over Paultons, another side in peril.
Basement side Fawley had to win at South Wilts to stay up.
Langley Manor’s bid to become SPL3 champions has been hindered by a late season wobble – the Manor having lost two of their last three games.
They still enjoyed a four-point lead over St Cross Symondians II, who went second after their win at Fair Oak.
Langley finished their campaign at Basingstoke, St Cross visited Waterlooville, and promotion outsiders Fair Oak played a Lymington II side still second from bottom despite two recent wins.
Hursley Park, far from safe if Lymington won, hosted fellow strugglers Havant II and needed to win themselves at The Quarters.
As the curtain came down on the season, all four championship titles were up for grabs, together with three sets of promotion places, and relegation issues in the second and third divisions.
But, with heavy rain forecast for mid-afternoon, the calculators were poised and ready, with the umpires busy brushing up on the rain rules.
Havant, needing just two points, were almost home and dry in their quest to win a first ECB Premier Division title in five years, Burridge needing to dismiss the leaders for less than 150 and win by seven or more wickets if they were to seize the crown.
Ventnor, victorious at long last against New Milton last weekend, have remained at the bottom all summer long, and can return to their iconic Steephill bowl and rebuild for the future.
In Division 1, the feeder league into the ECB Premier, four clubs went into their respective final games with prospects of ending the day as champions.
Freshly installed as leaders, Hook & Newnham Basics could hardly have asked for a tastier finale than the championship crown on offer and arch local rivals Basingstoke & North Hants providing the opposition at the KGV !
Two points ahead at the start of play, Hook needed to out-point fallen leaders Sarisbury Athletic, who faced a formidable final hurdle at in-form and fourth-placed Bournemouth, who still harboured a mathematical chance.
If Hook did go on and win the title, it would be poetic justice after New Milton beat them in the final silverware showdown to the 2015 season.
Andover, effectively only four points behind the lead pair, could still have snatched the title at the 11th hour.
If both Hook & Newnham Basics and Sarisbury Athletic lost their final games, the Lions would become championships themselves – if they won at Portsmouth.
Bournemouth, reflecting ruefully on the number of potential wins that slipped through their fingers, needed a significant victory over Sarisbury at Chapel Gate.
Teenage left-arm spinner Dominic Clutterbuck, lead wicket-taker in SPL1, is to have a trial with Sussex shortly.
OTs & Romsey and Totton & Eling have long since been relegated from SPL1, but the battle to replace them was still bubbling away with the Division 2 title race still unresolved at lunchtime today.
Eight points ahead, leaders Calmore Sports were in the box seat, but to be champions they must win their final match at the BCG, where Bashley (Rydal) II have been fighting a desperate but positive battle against relegation.
Second placed Tichborne Park needed to beat stumbling Trojans to prevent Hambledon from pinching the second promotion spot with a win over Paultons, another side in peril.
Basement side Fawley had to win at South Wilts to stay up.
Langley Manor’s bid to become SPL3 champions has been hindered by a late season wobble – the Manor having lost two of their last three games.
They still enjoyed a four-point lead over St Cross Symondians II, who went second after their win at Fair Oak.
Langley finished their campaign at Basingstoke, St Cross visited Waterlooville, and promotion outsiders Fair Oak played a Lymington II side still second from bottom despite two recent wins.
Hursley Park, far from safe if Lymington won, hosted fellow strugglers Havant II and needed to win themselves at The Quarters.
