Portsmouth odds on favourites for promotion as Cove and Lymington slip

Defeats for Cove and Lymington have established Portsmouth as firm favourites to win the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 championship.

Overnight leaders Cove were shot out for 72 and beaten by five wickets by Trojans at Stoneham Lane, while Lymington plunged to 81 all out and a promotion-ending fourth successive defeat against Old Tauntonians & Romsey.

The results swept Portsmouth - easy ten-wicket winners over Sparsholt - into a commanding top place with three matches to go.

Jamie Donaldson (3-27) and Pat Douglas (4-7 in 11 overs) routed Cove for a dismal 72 on a typical Stoneham wet top.

But the Thames Valley League bound visitors took five wickets before Nigel le Bas (24) guided Trojans to the brink of victory.

Left-hander Neil Stotart (59) and Charles Forward (42) provided the platform from which Max Smith's undefeated 71 swept Old Tauntonians & Romsey to a powerful 246-8 (Glyn Treagus 3-37).

Lymington, rocked by an initial burst by Mukesh Morjaria (4-31), sank to 81 all out, with clean shaven Geoff Stotart taking 4-22.

New leaders Portsmouth made short work of Sparsholt, who were shot out for 108 (Bill Gunyon 33).

Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul took 3-19 before cracking a quick-fire 79 not out. Steve Green produced a stunning all-round performance, hitting 77 before returning figures of 6-30 in Easton & Martyr Worthy's 58-run win over Hambledon.

Easton rattled up 226-5 (Ian Butcher 41, Andy Birch 31) before Green's left-arm spin reduced Hambledon from 53-0 to 168 all out (Mark le Clerq 38).

Relegated Old Basing were skittled for 61 and beaten by nine wickets by United Services.