Sparsholt need a solitary point from Saturday’s visit to Tichborne Park and 25 from the last three matches to win the Southern Premier League Division 2 title outright.
But they weren’t in the best place at Locks Lane, defending 169 and Paultons’ 24-1 when play was abandoned.
Opening pair Jerry Frith (38) and Michael Haworth (21) got Sparsholt off to a bright start, but Dave Banks (39) and Stuart Taylor (30) had to rebuild things after Rob Pike (4-29) had broken through.
But 90-3 became 163-5 before the last five Sparsholt wickets fell for six runs – Josh Metcalfe taking 3-10.
Pike’s fine day ended when he was bowled by Banks for a duck, but Paultons’ prospects of a fourth straight win disappeared when the rain came down.
Neighbours Totton & Eling remain on the lip of the drop zone after a second consecutive win, a four-wicket success against visiting Basingstoke & North Hants.
Richard Vinn (56) and Joe Oates (41) revived Basingstoke from 73-4 (Dan Belcher 33) to 221-9 – but Totton got home with four overs to spare.
Totton were 20-2 before Zimbabwean Gary Chirmuuta (above), with a 17-four 96, and added key runs with Oli Thomas (29) before Kieran Geyle hit a decisive 54 not out.
Totton, who host Rowledge on Saturday and Sparsholt on the final day of the season, lie eight points clear of Tichborne Park, with a visit to Trojans on August 25 critical.
But they weren’t in the best place at Locks Lane, defending 169 and Paultons’ 24-1 when play was abandoned.
Opening pair Jerry Frith (38) and Michael Haworth (21) got Sparsholt off to a bright start, but Dave Banks (39) and Stuart Taylor (30) had to rebuild things after Rob Pike (4-29) had broken through.
But 90-3 became 163-5 before the last five Sparsholt wickets fell for six runs – Josh Metcalfe taking 3-10.
Pike’s fine day ended when he was bowled by Banks for a duck, but Paultons’ prospects of a fourth straight win disappeared when the rain came down.
Neighbours Totton & Eling remain on the lip of the drop zone after a second consecutive win, a four-wicket success against visiting Basingstoke & North Hants.
Richard Vinn (56) and Joe Oates (41) revived Basingstoke from 73-4 (Dan Belcher 33) to 221-9 – but Totton got home with four overs to spare.
Totton were 20-2 before Zimbabwean Gary Chirmuuta (above), with a 17-four 96, and added key runs with Oli Thomas (29) before Kieran Geyle hit a decisive 54 not out.
Totton, who host Rowledge on Saturday and Sparsholt on the final day of the season, lie eight points clear of Tichborne Park, with a visit to Trojans on August 25 critical.
