SPCL2 Week12 - OTs & Romsey go back to top

Old Tauntonians & Romsey have displaced St Cross Symondians at the top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2.

A five-wicket defeat by Winchester neighbours Easton & Martyr Worthy at the Royal Green Jackets Ground bowled St Cross off pole position they had held for over a month.

OT's trimmed off-colour Lymington by 27 runs to establish a four-point advantage at the top.

A double wicket opening over by Australian left-armer Francis Gill (3-25) and a third breakthrough by Mark Stone (2-23) had St Cross reeling at 4-3 after just two overs.

Marc Rees (55), Mark Padwick (23) and Graham Barrett (16) rebuilt the innings, but a three-wicket spell by Shaun Green (3-27) reduced St Cross to 138 all out.

Easton sank to 75-5 before Green, with an unbeaten 39, and Ben Collins (21 not out) steered them home.

Old Tauntonians & Romsey enjoyed a comfortable win over Lymington after Charles Forward had led his side to 208-9 (Ian Tulk 34).

Glyn Treagus (3-52) and Mike West (3-47) shared the bowling spoils for Lymington, who dipped to 53-4 before Treagus (41) and Ben Craft (39), batting in unfamiliar middle-order positions, gave their reply some substance.

A three-wicket second spell by Jeremy Ord (3-35) ended Lymington's resistance at 187.

Zimbabwe international Gary Brent smashed four 6s and five fours in a blistering 80 not out to set up a 71-run win for Burridge over Hursley Park at Botley Road.

Arriving at the crease in the 31st over with Burridge nicely poised at 90-3 (Neil Cunningham 29) after a fine knock by Dave Jackson (64), Brent launched a fearsome attack on the Hursley bowling, with Indian leggie Sandip Halder (47 off three overs) bearing the brunt of the assault.

Burridge reached 239-4 (), but then had to defend as Adie Aymes (33) and Raman Prendergast (34) put on 77 for Hursley before a direct hit by Brent ran out the former Hampshire wicketkeeper.

Left-arm spinner Andy Ford (5-34) and Phil Ransley (2-28) slowed the rate of progress as Hursley dropped from 116-3 to 168 all out, with Brent (1-34) getting the tenth wicket.

A seven-wicket defeat at Gosport has left Sparsholt dangling on the lip of the two-down danger zone.

Tim Richings hit 84 before Sparsholt caved in against the five-wicket off-spin of Mark Oxford (5-43).

Adam Watkins hit an undefeated 85 and shared a 90-run start with Lee Wateridge (57) as Gosport cruised past Sparsholt's 172 all out.

The win lifted the Borough above United Services, who were bowled out for 135 and beaten by 36 runs at Purbrook, whose 171-9 owed much to an unbeaten 45 from Ian Limb.