Portsmouth & Southsea extended their 100 per cent Southern Premier League record to 12 wins - but only after being given a huge last-over scare.
With six balls remaining, hosts Sway required an unlikely 29 to inflict a first Division 3 defeat of the campaign on P & S.
Facing Jake Peach was Southampton University student Tobi Ramwell, batting at No 9 and with a previous highest score in 2022 of 22, though he has previously played for Darwen in the powerful Lancashire League..
Remarkably, Lancastrian Ramwell, a former pupil of Bolton School, struck 24 off Peach’s first five balls - four, six, four, four and another six.
A third six off the final ball would have brought up one of the most incredible wins in Southern Premier League history. Another boundary would have resulted in a tie.
As it was, though, Ramwell was unable to score off the last delivery. That allowed P & S to open up a 54-point lead over third-placed Sway, with only the top two going up to the third tier.
It was P & S’ second narrow win over the New Forest club this year, following on from Jack Davies’ unbeaten 91 in a one-wicket success on Portsea Island in May.
It was a remarkable performance by Sway, who were without five front line players, including their entire pace bowling attack and the injured Alex Hall.
With six balls remaining, hosts Sway required an unlikely 29 to inflict a first Division 3 defeat of the campaign on P & S.
Facing Jake Peach was Southampton University student Tobi Ramwell, batting at No 9 and with a previous highest score in 2022 of 22, though he has previously played for Darwen in the powerful Lancashire League..
Remarkably, Lancastrian Ramwell, a former pupil of Bolton School, struck 24 off Peach’s first five balls - four, six, four, four and another six.
A third six off the final ball would have brought up one of the most incredible wins in Southern Premier League history. Another boundary would have resulted in a tie.
As it was, though, Ramwell was unable to score off the last delivery. That allowed P & S to open up a 54-point lead over third-placed Sway, with only the top two going up to the third tier.
It was P & S’ second narrow win over the New Forest club this year, following on from Jack Davies’ unbeaten 91 in a one-wicket success on Portsea Island in May.
It was a remarkable performance by Sway, who were without five front line players, including their entire pace bowling attack and the injured Alex Hall.
Chasing 195 for victory, Sway had slumped to 48-6. The experienced Jon Grasham (45) provided stability, sharing a 75-run stand for the seventh wicket with Tom Burton before he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Keiron Dunstan (3-39).
Burton, batting at No 8, eventually fell for 50 after a 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ramwell.
It had looked all over for the hosts when Burton fell off the penultimate over - dismissed by Matt Benfield. But Ramwell took a s.ingle off the next ball, allowing him to unleash a boundary blitz off Peach which so nearly brought a stunning result.
P & S had started brightly with an opening stand of 65 until the pacey Grasham struck in his first over, Matt Benfield (22) caught by a diving Steve How. Two balls later Shaun Briggs (31) was brilliantly run out by Sam Nailor.
Tom Benfield top scored on 44 as P & S were bowled out for 194 - the 30 wides Sway conceded in a total of 37 extras proving crucial in the long run.
Burton, batting at No 8, eventually fell for 50 after a 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ramwell.
It had looked all over for the hosts when Burton fell off the penultimate over - dismissed by Matt Benfield. But Ramwell took a s.ingle off the next ball, allowing him to unleash a boundary blitz off Peach which so nearly brought a stunning result.
P & S had started brightly with an opening stand of 65 until the pacey Grasham struck in his first over, Matt Benfield (22) caught by a diving Steve How. Two balls later Shaun Briggs (31) was brilliantly run out by Sam Nailor.
Tom Benfield top scored on 44 as P & S were bowled out for 194 - the 30 wides Sway conceded in a total of 37 extras proving crucial in the long run.