Newly-promoted St Cross soared to the top of Division 2 with a 135-run win over Old Tauntonians & Romsey at the Royal Green Jackets Ground.

It is the highest position the Winchester club has ever attained in the Hampshire pyramid.

Spin trio Mark Padwick (4-29), Matt Perry Lewis (3-22) and Will Mariner (2-7) brought previously undefeated OT's (98 all out) to their knees after Fergus Haycock had guided St Cross to 233-9 with a maiden league half-century.

Haycock (76) and Steve Shaw (34) shared a 76-run start for St Cross, who progressed to 182-2 through Rhys Morgan (24) and Graham Barrett (32) before the innings collapsed, left-arm spinner Nick Wood (4-62) and Max Smith (3-60) sending St Cross tumbling to 233-9.

Third-placed Easton & Martyr Worthy made short work of beating Hursley Park by nine wickets.

Adrian Aymes, the former Hampshire wicketkeeper, suffered a hamstring strain and limped to 35 not out as Hursley dipped from 120-1 to 163-7.

Sandip Halder (30), Raman Prendergast (28) and Paul Edwards (25) all contributed before Steve Green (5-28) cut through the Hursley middle-order.

Ashley Spencer (43) dominated Easton's response before Dave Birch (70 not out) and Shaun Green (30 not out) completed the rout.

Burridge opener Pete Tugwell marked his return to Privett Park with 68, but Gosport Borough eased to a four-wicket win. Paul Jenkins (3-28) and Mark Oxford (3-39) left Bur-ridge 168 all out - Aussie Andrew Watkins (67) taking Gosport home.

Ollie Kelly hit a league best 84 and shared a century opening stand with Tim Richings (66) as Sparsholt crushed Purbrook by 91 runs to record a third successive win.

Sparsholt totalled 239-9 before bowling Purbrook out for 148, with Andy Lang taking 5-41.

Lymington are going in the opposite direction, plunging to a third successive defeat after losing by 132 runs to United Services.

Sam Lavery (54), Gary Hounsome (54) and Jim Matthews (54) all made half-centuries in Services' 257-7, but none of the Lymington batsmen made a real impression in a disappointing 125 all out.