Fawley edged their way out of the Southern Premier League Division 3 relegation zone with a desperately needed seven-wicket win over Hambledon at Ridge Meadow.
But with only nine points separating the bottom four and with promotion chasing Purbrook headed for Holbury on Saturday (12.30) they are far from out of the woods.
Fawley found themselves encamped in the two-down drop zone after three successive defeats, making Hambledon a ‘must win’ affair for Callum Earl’s side.
They didn’t disappoint either, as early season SPL3 leaders Hambledon dropped from 123-4 to 157 all out, the evergreen Wayne Smith (4-1) and left-armer Adam Freeman (3-25) the architects of their demise.
Smith’s dismissal of the in-form Henry Glanfield (52) triggered Hambledon’s collapse.
Fawley must have feared a case of the ‘same old’ when the lean and lanky Rupert Hetherington (2-30) left them tottering at 36-3.
But the influential Sufian Munir and Melbourne-bound Will Crossley, with his maiden SPL half-century, turned the game with an unbroken 124-run partnership.
Hitting two sixes and eight four, Munir (pictured) hit 60 not out, with Crossley an equally important 56.
Portsmouth & Southsea’s five-wicket victory over Havant II (203-9) was music to the ears of Fawley as it took them three points above Gareth Ransley’s side.
Gareth (68) and Stuart Ransley (62) top scored in Havant’s 203-9, with Andy Gorvin the third of a hat-triick for Chris Turrell (3-21). Matt Benfield took 3-23.
P & S chased down the target, with Jake Peach (42) and Rob Wigley (28) lifting the Southsea club from a worrying 120-5 .
But with only nine points separating the bottom four and with promotion chasing Purbrook headed for Holbury on Saturday (12.30) they are far from out of the woods.
Fawley found themselves encamped in the two-down drop zone after three successive defeats, making Hambledon a ‘must win’ affair for Callum Earl’s side.
They didn’t disappoint either, as early season SPL3 leaders Hambledon dropped from 123-4 to 157 all out, the evergreen Wayne Smith (4-1) and left-armer Adam Freeman (3-25) the architects of their demise.
Smith’s dismissal of the in-form Henry Glanfield (52) triggered Hambledon’s collapse.
Fawley must have feared a case of the ‘same old’ when the lean and lanky Rupert Hetherington (2-30) left them tottering at 36-3.
But the influential Sufian Munir and Melbourne-bound Will Crossley, with his maiden SPL half-century, turned the game with an unbroken 124-run partnership.
Hitting two sixes and eight four, Munir (pictured) hit 60 not out, with Crossley an equally important 56.
Portsmouth & Southsea’s five-wicket victory over Havant II (203-9) was music to the ears of Fawley as it took them three points above Gareth Ransley’s side.
Gareth (68) and Stuart Ransley (62) top scored in Havant’s 203-9, with Andy Gorvin the third of a hat-triick for Chris Turrell (3-21). Matt Benfield took 3-23.
P & S chased down the target, with Jake Peach (42) and Rob Wigley (28) lifting the Southsea club from a worrying 120-5 .
