WHAT a crazy week it's been for Liphook & Ripsley.
Just seven days after being skittled for 38 by Havant, they bounced back and beat BAT Sports - ending any prospect of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League championship trophy staying at Southern Gardens.
Their unexpected six-wicket win was not terribly well received at Old Tauntonians & Romsey either.
It means Liphook stay two points ahead of OT's in the relegation zone, with two matches to play.
BAT suffered an amazing collapse at Ripsley Park.
They appeared set for a formidable total at 103-1 - only to lose their last nine wickets for 56 and crumble to 159 all out.
Damian Shirazi (44) and Neal Parlane (31) gave the defending champions the platform from which to build a big total.
But it all went terribly wrong in mid-afternoon, once Nick Gay (2-40) nipped out the BAT openers.
Surrey Under-17 prospect Matt Jones (4-35) and Alex Hughes (2-19) exploited the damp conditions and made significant inroads into the BAT middle-order, with only Richard Kenway and Graham Noble managing double figures.
South African Dom Ridley averted any repeat of a second consecutive Liphook batting disaster and, with Chris Wright (23) alongside, steered the hosts to 92-1.
Ridley hit a match winning 79 before Paul Woodland and Duncan Berry checked a three-wicket return by Dan Goldstraw (3-32) to guide Liphook home.
The result promptly cut short any celebrations Old Tauntonians & Romsey were about to enjoy after beating Portsmouth by 25 runs at St Helen's, Southsea.
It means OT's will probably have to win one of their last two matches against Bournemouth and the Hampshire Academy, and hope Liphook slip up, either at Chapel Gate or in their final match with Andover.
Jodey Brown (68 not out) and Max Smith (61) rescued OT's from a potential batting disaster of their own against Portsmouth.
Richard Cunnington (2-20) and James Manning had them in early difficulty at 23-3 but, after Scott Shirley (18) had launched the recovery, Brown and Smith added a crucial 127 to take OT's to 205-5.
Portsmouth progressed to 65-1, but when New Zealander Shirley provided Colin Morris with his 22nd wicketkeeping victim of the season, the city club began to lose their way.
Leg spinner Phil Wyatt (3-43) and Max Smith (3-26) unsettled the middle-order, Portsmouth regularly losing wickets on their way to 180 all out.
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