SPCL 3 - Purbrook on the up alongside St.Cross

St Cross Symondians are set for promotion from Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 after a six-wicket spell by Brian Lipscombe nailed Havant II at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.

A comfortable seven-wicket win for St Cross clinched the runners-up position behind Purbrook, who won the championship itself after whipping Ventnor by 112 runs.

Lipscombe, who has only recently returned from New Zealand, came on as first change, taking 6-39 to help Stuart Charman (2-17) dismiss Havant for 135 (Simon Greenfield 27).

Marc Rees (37 not out), Graham Barrett (35) and Mark Parker (24) eased St Cross home.

South African Willem Prozesky hit 64 and shared a century opening partnership with Mike Hennessy (45) as Purbrook rattled up 223-9 against Ventnor.

But Prozesky, who finished the season with 988 runs, failed by 12 to become the third SL batsman to score 1,000 runs in a season.

Once Graham McCoy (4-22) had created inroads into the top order, there was only one outcome - Ventnor sliding to 111 all out.

Southsea won the Hampshire League championship, beating nine-man Calmore Sports II by six wickets, while South Wilts II finished second after thrashing Sarisbury Athletic by 122 runs.