Southern Electric Premier League - Division 2

Hursley Park (183 for 6) lost to St Cross Symondians (188 for 7) by 3 wickets

HURSLEY Park's dreams of winning the Premier 2 title were dashed when they lost to local rivals St Cross by three wickets in a tense last over finish at the Quarters.

The result secured St Cross's escape from relegation - barring a mathematical miracle on the last day of the season.

Having survived the worst of the overnight rain, the game was played on a green wicket and a much slower than usual outfield.

St Cross won the toss and asked Hursley to bat first. Adrian Small was out early, but a stand of 81 between Paul Marks and Paul Edwards redressed the balance.

Early on runs were hard to come by, but the run rate was increased by some 24 wides. Nick O'Connor bowled straight through to return 1 for 27, including nine wides, while Stuart Charman bowled eight overs for only 19 runs conceded.

Both batsmen fell trying to increase the run rate; Edwards (28) was bowled by Matt Perry-Lewis, and Marks (37) skied to Nigel Miller. Adi Aymes and Paul Davies kept the tempo up before Davies was bowled by Brian Lipscombe.

Ben Smyth joined Aymes, and they looked like setting a competitive total until Aymes fell for 46. Smyth remained undefeated on 18 as the final total reached 183 for 6.

The St Cross reply started cautiously, with Phil Nevin prominent. Miller fell to a catch by Ben Smyth with the score on 34, but Ben Adams and Nevin took the total to 100 before Adams was bowled round his legs by Andy Marks for 19. Five runs later Nevin fell to a brilliant low Paul Davies catch at long off for 44.

Graham Barrett and Jack Jenkins took the attack to the spinners, Marks and Oli Green.

Barrett finally went for one big hit too many and was bowled, and with Jenkins falling to an Aymes catch and Mark Padwick going lbw the whole game was in the balance at 141 for 6.

Ross Cambray had O'Connor stumped by Smyth as the game swung towards the home side. However, Charman and Lipscombe edged St Cross ever closer until 12 were needed from the last two overs and four from the the last.

A scrambled two was followed by an enormous Lipscombe six, which gave St Cross victory with four balls to spare and saved their Premier Two lives.