TROJANS find themselves playing catch-up in the Southern Electric Premier Division 3 promotion race after suffering a five-wicket defeat at Basingstoke & North Hants.
They go into Saturday’s crunch match against second placed South Wilts II at Stoneham Lane four points adrift in the three-horse chase for an SPL2 spot next season.
With Waterlooville also losing – an unbeaten Ben Walker century sent them crashing at Havant – only a handful of points separates the top three.
Callum Coombs, pictured left, was once again the star with the bat as Basingstoke II made it four wins on the trot, scoring his third half century in a row as his 70 not out steered his side to victory.
He shared a fifth wicket partnership worth 81 with George Chaffer (31) and then an unbeaten stand of 90 with Keith Harsham (48) as the home side won by five wickets.
Earlier in the contest, Trojans made a steady start reaching 106-2 thanks to opener/captain Ed Boyd (51).
Trojans continued to keep the scoreboard ticking with most of their players getting into double figures, but they were eventually bowled out for 219 (Tom Prouton 35).
Left-arm spinner Dave Pistorius (3-38) was the top wicket taker, with Dan King and Aylward Cup final hero Harry Smith both taking two wickets.
Leaders Waterlooville had their lead trimmed to a solitary point when an unbeaten 102 by Ben Walker enabled Havant II to sail past their modest 159 (James Scutt 52) at Havant Park.
Defeats for the overnight lead pair let South Wilts back into the promotion frame – seasoned left-arm all-rounder Paul Draper plotting the downfall of St Cross Symondians II at the Green Jackets Ground.
South Wilts hardly fancied their prospects at the tea interval after Stan Alsop (4-31) helped reduce them to 120 all out (Sam Pittman 28).
But St Cross, now on the lip of the relegation zone, struggled from the off and, Paul Hawkins (44) apart, no one made any real impression.
St Cross plunged from 49-1 to 76-9 – eight wickets falling for 27 runs – as Draper (5-15) and Rob Pittman (3-25) cut through their ranks.
A last-wicket stand lifted St Cross to 100 all out, 20 runs behind.
Totton & Eling seconds and Alton II, the two sides beneath St Cross Symondians, both lost – but the Winchester side still has to play them both in a tricky run-in.
Totton (113) were steamrollered by 165 runs after Gosport Borough had piled up 286-9 at Privett Park, where Craig Stares (64) and Australian Blake Maher (61) led the scoring.
Alton’s 67-run defeat at Lymington – where teenager Finn Ambrose made 60 – left the Brewers rock bottom, 40 points adrift of safety with four to play.
They go into Saturday’s crunch match against second placed South Wilts II at Stoneham Lane four points adrift in the three-horse chase for an SPL2 spot next season.
With Waterlooville also losing – an unbeaten Ben Walker century sent them crashing at Havant – only a handful of points separates the top three.
Callum Coombs, pictured left, was once again the star with the bat as Basingstoke II made it four wins on the trot, scoring his third half century in a row as his 70 not out steered his side to victory.
He shared a fifth wicket partnership worth 81 with George Chaffer (31) and then an unbeaten stand of 90 with Keith Harsham (48) as the home side won by five wickets.
Earlier in the contest, Trojans made a steady start reaching 106-2 thanks to opener/captain Ed Boyd (51).
Trojans continued to keep the scoreboard ticking with most of their players getting into double figures, but they were eventually bowled out for 219 (Tom Prouton 35).
Left-arm spinner Dave Pistorius (3-38) was the top wicket taker, with Dan King and Aylward Cup final hero Harry Smith both taking two wickets.
Leaders Waterlooville had their lead trimmed to a solitary point when an unbeaten 102 by Ben Walker enabled Havant II to sail past their modest 159 (James Scutt 52) at Havant Park.
Defeats for the overnight lead pair let South Wilts back into the promotion frame – seasoned left-arm all-rounder Paul Draper plotting the downfall of St Cross Symondians II at the Green Jackets Ground.
South Wilts hardly fancied their prospects at the tea interval after Stan Alsop (4-31) helped reduce them to 120 all out (Sam Pittman 28).
But St Cross, now on the lip of the relegation zone, struggled from the off and, Paul Hawkins (44) apart, no one made any real impression.
St Cross plunged from 49-1 to 76-9 – eight wickets falling for 27 runs – as Draper (5-15) and Rob Pittman (3-25) cut through their ranks.
A last-wicket stand lifted St Cross to 100 all out, 20 runs behind.
Totton & Eling seconds and Alton II, the two sides beneath St Cross Symondians, both lost – but the Winchester side still has to play them both in a tricky run-in.
Totton (113) were steamrollered by 165 runs after Gosport Borough had piled up 286-9 at Privett Park, where Craig Stares (64) and Australian Blake Maher (61) led the scoring.
Alton’s 67-run defeat at Lymington – where teenager Finn Ambrose made 60 – left the Brewers rock bottom, 40 points adrift of safety with four to play.