OLD Tauntonians & Romsey all-rounder Max Smith cracked 21 boundaries in an undefeated 106 but was unable to save his beleaguered side from a sixth successive Southern Electric Premier League defeat at Bashley (Rydal).

Smith rescued his side from a perilous 41-6 and thwarted Bashley into the final hour of an otherwise one-sided contest in which the New Forest club posted 266-5 declared off 60 overs.

Jeremy Ord, who conceded 11 runs off his initial nine new-ball overs, proved particularly difficult to get away, but he lacked any real support as Bashley batted the visitors out of the contest.

Shawn Gillies (77) underpinned the Bashley total, dominating a second-wicket partnership with Neil Sexton (34) before Andy Neal struck a venemous run-a-ball 69 not out, which included a six and five fours.

Richard Knowles (37) and Andy Sexton (33) added further runs as Bashley progressed to their highest total of the season.

Bashley's four-pronged pace attack ripped out OTs' entire top order, except Jeremy Ord (39), with Kevin Nash (4-56), Neal (2-22) and Matt King (2-44) particularly effective.

But OTs refused to go down without a fight - Smith's cameo, under the strain of a leg muscle injury, denying Bashley until the end.

Neil Harrison-Smith hit an undefeated half-century to avert a middle-order collapse and guide Bournemouth to a four-wicket win over Premier League strugglers Liphook & Ripsley.

He kept his cool as Bournemouth lost six wickets in a nervous chase to overhaul Liphook's modest 123, compiled on a poor quality Ripsley Park strip.

Bournemouth found themselves up against it after Richard Scott and Dan Jackson had gone for ducks.

Grant Mather (31) made his presence felt before Bournemouth moved from an uncertain 41-3 to 103 without further loss.

But, when three wickets fell for 14 runs, Bournemouth needed Harrison-Smith's experience to get their Premier challenge back on course.

Rob Hodgson (3-56) took his wicket haul for the season to 24, but it was Mather (3-4) who caught and bowled Nick Gay, whose battling 65 held Liphook's innings together.