James Taylor, match winning knock for Totton & Eling
Totton & Eling have the Southern Premier League Division Two title within their sights after beating St Cross Symondians II, probably their chief rivals, by four wickets at Southern Gardens.
They bowled the Wincheter side out for 174 before an unbeaten 71 by James Taylor steered Totton to a victory which gives them a 45-point advantage at the top of the table.
With Jason Laney on first team duty and Paul Hawkins absent, St Cross were not at their batting strongest and it was largely due to Steven Hirst (62), Dave Orchard (31) and Raj Naik (27) that they made 174.
Brighton Mugochi wheeled down ten overs for 17 runs, while Billy Lightfoot, Totton's young spinner, took 4-53 and Dimitri Adams 3-27 as St Cross fell from 115-3.
When Zimbabwean Bothwell Chapungu (34) belted 28 of Totton's initial 50 runs to the boundary, it looked as though the Eels might romp home, but Taylor saw six partners come, and go before the target was reached. He hit three sixes and nine fours in a largely patient 71.
Totton are almost out of sight at the top, with Liphook & Ripsley, Paultons and St Cross Symondians II all having lost five times.
Liphook are currently second, while Paultons lost ground after being skittled for a dismal 51 by Hartley Wintney - Harry Broderick and Anthony Parson sharing six of the wickets - after Australian George Condon made made 30 of the total. Hartley earlier posted 179-9.
Langley Manor chased down a massive 335 to win at Hartley Wintney but were rolled out for 61 by Waterlooville, Conor Regan taking six for eight ! Ville won by six wickets.
Langley remain anchored to the bottom, five points ahead of Basingstoke & North Hants II, but 20 points adrift of South Wilts, who are clinging to the nearest safety rung.
Basingstoke (146-9) lost by two wickets to Fair Oak - Rhys Oxley's 5-19 return proving a match winner.
They bowled the Wincheter side out for 174 before an unbeaten 71 by James Taylor steered Totton to a victory which gives them a 45-point advantage at the top of the table.
With Jason Laney on first team duty and Paul Hawkins absent, St Cross were not at their batting strongest and it was largely due to Steven Hirst (62), Dave Orchard (31) and Raj Naik (27) that they made 174.
Brighton Mugochi wheeled down ten overs for 17 runs, while Billy Lightfoot, Totton's young spinner, took 4-53 and Dimitri Adams 3-27 as St Cross fell from 115-3.
When Zimbabwean Bothwell Chapungu (34) belted 28 of Totton's initial 50 runs to the boundary, it looked as though the Eels might romp home, but Taylor saw six partners come, and go before the target was reached. He hit three sixes and nine fours in a largely patient 71.
Totton are almost out of sight at the top, with Liphook & Ripsley, Paultons and St Cross Symondians II all having lost five times.
Liphook are currently second, while Paultons lost ground after being skittled for a dismal 51 by Hartley Wintney - Harry Broderick and Anthony Parson sharing six of the wickets - after Australian George Condon made made 30 of the total. Hartley earlier posted 179-9.
Langley Manor chased down a massive 335 to win at Hartley Wintney but were rolled out for 61 by Waterlooville, Conor Regan taking six for eight ! Ville won by six wickets.
Langley remain anchored to the bottom, five points ahead of Basingstoke & North Hants II, but 20 points adrift of South Wilts, who are clinging to the nearest safety rung.
Basingstoke (146-9) lost by two wickets to Fair Oak - Rhys Oxley's 5-19 return proving a match winner.
