AMID jubilant scenes, Hampshire pulled off a brilliant last-gasp victory against Oxfordshire to reach the Middleton Cup quarter-finals.

Moments earlier Leo May had been the coolest dude in Banbury as he calmly rolled in the winning shot that gave Hampshire a 120-119 (16-6) success with the final bowl of the day - and was immediately mobbed by teammates as pandemonium broke out on and off the green.

Pressure - what pressure? With the eyes of all the other bowlers, officials and spectators focused on him, May delivered a gem - and sank to his knees in a mixture of relief and triumph as Hampshire completed the sweetest of revenge wins against an Oxfordshire side who had embarrassed them at Atherley last year.

What's more, May managed it against Oxfordshire star skip Greg Moon, who could not prevent Hampshire from getting the result they needed to top the group - a draw would have meant Oxfordshire went through.

Though May took the plaudits, credit also goes to Fareham's Charlie Bailey, who set up that late, late charge with an equally crucial six after a perfect delivery, just when Oxfordshire - eight ahead with two ends to play - thought they had victory in the bag.

But, as far as John Plomer was concerned, he had 24 heroes on the green. The Hampshire manager - a veteran of many a Middleton Cup scrap over the decades - said: "It was simply fantastic to win a match like that. I am so proud of the lads - they gave it everything they had and that gave me a real boost."

Hampshire, who went into the match second to Oxfordshire on shots difference alone, showed they meant business from the off by marching 38-15 ahead at five ends.

They stretched the margin to 63-35 by the tenth end but the gap was down to 89-74 come the 15th - before the Oxfordshire revival got into full stride. But the vociferous home supporters were ultimately stunned by six-shooter Bailey and May's magnificence.

In the last eight on Saturday, July 24, Hampshire will be on another revenge mission against Surrey - the side who beat Plomer's men at this stage two years ago. Prize for the winners is a place in the semi-finals at Worthing on August 28.

Rink scores:

Bill Taws, Paul Lawrence (both CS Portsmouth), Colin Hayward (Milton Park), Charlie Bailey (Fareham) 20 Alan Prew 22;

John Keat (Sports Centre), Chris Martin (Boscombe Cliff), Mick Brown (Milton Park), Rod Rosier (Kingsclere) 17 Alan Ley 23;

Alan Geary (Boscombe Cliff), Darren Clark (Bournemouth), Dean Morgan (Boscombe Cliff), Paul May (Pyestock) 22 Mark Charlett 18;

Ian Churchman (Aldershot Traction), Rob Barnes (Richmond Park), Colin Thresher (Sports Centre), Leo May (Pyestock) 24 Greg Moon 16;

Kevin Philip (Aldershot Traction), Mark Hammond (Sports Centre), Bill Belcher (Bournemouth), Chris Daniels (Boscombe Cliff) 18 Baden Sparkes 23;

Barry Bendall (Banister Park), Andy Anderson, Denny Graydon (both Fleming Park), Martyn Sekjer (Boscombe Cliff) 19 Calvin Carpenter 17.

Other result: Isle of Wight 97 (4) Middlesex 149 (18). Final group positions: Hampshire 54, Oxfordshire 44, Middlesex 24, Isle of Wight 10.

Quarter-final draw: Hampshire v Surrey, Leicestershire v Lancashire, Cumbria or Northumberland v Essex or Norfolk, Devon (holders) v Worcestershire.