South Wilts seconds are within touching distance of the Southern Electric Premier Division 3 championship, which they will expect to wrap up when bottom-of-the-table Alton II visit Bemerton on Saturday, 12.30pm.
A resounding 187-run win over Totton & Eling II – the other relegated club – left South Wilts needing a maximum of seven points from their final game to be sure of the title.
Despite winning eight of their last nine games, South Wilts have been unable to shake off Trojans, who continue to cling on to their shirt-tails in second position.
Trojans, 62-run winners, over Waterlooville, need another three points from Saturday’s visit to Gosport Borough to get the other promotion spot.
South Wilts II didn’t have it all their own way at Southern Gardens, where they were 111-5 (Ben Draper 46) at one stage.
But the middle-order responded, with the evergreen Paul Draper hitting an unbeaten 59 and getting support from Sam Arnold (33), Sam Pittman (19) and Marc Burton (18) as South Wilts raced to 243-7 (Josh Arnold 3-40).
Totton crumbled to 56 all out in less than 25 overs – Rob Pittman returning an SPL best 6-16 and Paul Draper (3-12) completing a fine individual performance by dismissing, nine, ten and Jack.
Trojans, who would have been relegated last season but for Fair Oak’s demotion on ground issues, look set to finish runners-up, though Havant II are not yet out of the frame.
The Stoneham club could paid to Waterlooville’s fading promotion ambitions once and for all, scoring 225-8 before bowling their visitors out for 163.
Havant II ran amok, scoring 287-8 – James Christian (63), Gareth Ransley (59 not out) and Steve Dean (53) all hit half-centuries – before restricting Basingstoke & North Hants II to 229-9.
Renowned women's hockey coach Jack Middleton and Zac Organ each took three wickets as St Cross Symondians II bowled Alton II out for 130.
Lymington II edged a one-run win over Gosport, the Borough finishing one light of their hosts 186 all out, despite a gallant knock by chairman Pete Robson, their Hampshire Over-60s prospect.
A resounding 187-run win over Totton & Eling II – the other relegated club – left South Wilts needing a maximum of seven points from their final game to be sure of the title.
Despite winning eight of their last nine games, South Wilts have been unable to shake off Trojans, who continue to cling on to their shirt-tails in second position.
Trojans, 62-run winners, over Waterlooville, need another three points from Saturday’s visit to Gosport Borough to get the other promotion spot.
South Wilts II didn’t have it all their own way at Southern Gardens, where they were 111-5 (Ben Draper 46) at one stage.
But the middle-order responded, with the evergreen Paul Draper hitting an unbeaten 59 and getting support from Sam Arnold (33), Sam Pittman (19) and Marc Burton (18) as South Wilts raced to 243-7 (Josh Arnold 3-40).
Totton crumbled to 56 all out in less than 25 overs – Rob Pittman returning an SPL best 6-16 and Paul Draper (3-12) completing a fine individual performance by dismissing, nine, ten and Jack.
Trojans, who would have been relegated last season but for Fair Oak’s demotion on ground issues, look set to finish runners-up, though Havant II are not yet out of the frame.
The Stoneham club could paid to Waterlooville’s fading promotion ambitions once and for all, scoring 225-8 before bowling their visitors out for 163.
Havant II ran amok, scoring 287-8 – James Christian (63), Gareth Ransley (59 not out) and Steve Dean (53) all hit half-centuries – before restricting Basingstoke & North Hants II to 229-9.
Renowned women's hockey coach Jack Middleton and Zac Organ each took three wickets as St Cross Symondians II bowled Alton II out for 130.
Lymington II edged a one-run win over Gosport, the Borough finishing one light of their hosts 186 all out, despite a gallant knock by chairman Pete Robson, their Hampshire Over-60s prospect.
