SEVENTEEN points separate the top five in Hampshire League County Division 1 – after the leading three sides crashed to defeat.

The race for the title and potential promotion into the Southern Premier League for the top two took a significant twist as –

1) overnight leaders Fareham & Crofton were shot out for 138 and beaten by eight wickets by Hursley Park;

2) lowly Bishop’s Waltham upset the apple cart by beating second-placed Hythe & Dibden; and

3) Ropley were smashed for a massive 305-5 and resoundingly beaten by Andover II, who had lost eight of their previous ten games.

Fareham paraded transfer deadline day signing Steve Berryman (St Cross Symondians) at The Quarters.

He was among five top-order batsmen to make double figures before Fareham collapsed to 138 all out, losing their last six wickets for 33 runs, Scott Hills taking 3-13.

Paul Marks hit an accomplished 60 to see Hursley into fourth place.

Sam Medhurst was the star of Bishop’s Waltham’s surprise 25-run win on the Waterside, top scoring with 75 before taking 3-47.

Medhurst and Phil Baldock (51) guided Bishop’s to 268 all out, which Hythe & Dibden were unable to match, despite Tom Gates (63), Matt Howe (46) and Tom Richards (41).

Andover’s crushing 192-run win over Ropley was unquestionably the shock result of the season.

Cardiff University student Harri Williams crunched three sixes and 19 fours in a stunning 152 not out.

Babu Veetil (88) gave support as Andover piled up 305-5 before shooting Ropley out for 113.

Longparish are in the top six after beating US Portsmouth by 145 runs. They made 262-7 (Mike Taplin 57, Jack Levy 40) before US (117) caved in against the spin of Sam Trinder (6-27).

Parley posted 234 at OTs & Romsey before bowling their hosts out for 168.

Easton & Martyr Worthy and Ryde both posted 300-plus totals, while Archie Ayling, teenage son of ex-Hampshire all-rounder Jon Ayling, took 5-22 for Burridge II against Hook & Newnham Basics.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

County Division 1

Burridge II (4) 99 Hook & Newnham Basics II 95 (Ayling 5-22).

Ryde (9) 303 (Laverajah 66, Mitchell 60, Gregory 43, Scott 3-43) Alton II (5) 257 (Green 48, Evans 75*, Hughes 59*).

Longparish (7) 262 (Taplin 57, Levy 40) US Portsmouth 117 (Trinder 6-27).

Hythe & Dibden (9) 243 (Gates 63) Bishops Waltham 268 (Medhurst 75).

Hursley Park (2) 141 (Marks 60) Fareham & Crofton 138 (Hills 3-10).

St Cross Symondians III 112 (Hole 3-14) Easton & Martyr Worthy (6) 315 (Shreshtra 101, Giumelli 96, Fryer 4-45).

Shrewton (2) 183 (Brewer 100*, Cruse 44) Rowledge II 181 (Yates 53, Harries 4-45).

Andover II (5) 305 (Williams 152*, Veetil 88). Ropley 113.

OTs & Romsey II 168 (Woodall 78, Elrick 3-38, Savage 3-42) Parley 234 (Nippard 44, Ayres 44, Shapland 5-38).

County Division 2

Sway (4) 128 Odiham & Greywell 127.

Ventnor II 146 Portsmouth II (5) 237.

Old Basing (6) 219 Basingstoke & North Hants III (9) 214.

Hayling Island (4) 253 New Milton II 180.

Ferndown Wayfarers (6) 183 Bramshaw 182.

East Woodhay (4) 283 Locks Heath (7) 282.

Fair oak II (5) 373 (Gradwell 128, Burrell 55, Stewart 55) Sarisbury Athletic II (9) 207 (Bolton 59, Bass 4-25).

South Wilts III 103 (Thompson 6-40) Bournemouth II 237 (Wilson 84, Lewis 4-34).

Bedhampton (6) 249 Compton & Chandlers Ford (6) 243.

County Division 3 North

Chawton 166 (Channon 60, Goodman 5-19) Hook & Newnham Basics III 180 (James 52).

Liphook & Ripsley II (9) 195 IBM Hursley (1) 198.

Steep (1) 100 Hursley Park II 94 (Bone 5-18).

Petersfield 173 Redlynch & Hale (9) 174.

Michelmersh & Timsbury 148 OTs & Romsey III (4) 153.

Harley Wintney (7) 276 (Millward 64, Porter 99) Hungerford (4) 282 (Rowell 61, MacDonald 137*).

Liss (1) 82 Steeple Langford 78 (Hedicker 5-18).

Ramsdell (9) 215 (Nurse 95) RAM 214 (Ali 78).

County Division 3 South

Folland (Hamble) 100. Mudeford (9) 255.

Kerala 163 Calmore Sports II 132.

Bashley (Rydal) III (7) 266 (Pardy 105*) Suttoners 104.

Verwood 134 Cadnam (3) 138.

Winton (0) 52 Hambledon 49.

Bishops Waltham II (8) 184 Bransgore (7) 188.

Woodgreen (8) 184 Emsworth (3) 238.

Langley Manor II (8) 218 Totton & Eling II (9) 227.

County Division 4 North

Compton & Chandlers Ford II 99 (Angove 30*, Reidy 4-11, McKenzie 4-6) Twyford (2) 101 (Moreland 50, Reidy 35*).

Alton III (9) 156 (Heffernan 42, Taylor 3-24, Hill 3-33, Dadd 3-51) Donnington 166 (Pyle 37, Tapp 3-50, Bridger 3-28).

Fair Oak III (1) 71 (Goodyear 30*) Tichborne Park II 70 (Merrill 4-24).

Basingstoke & North Hants IV 194 Old Basing II (9) 196 (Dodd 3-48).

Ashford Hill 98 (Saint 25, Regan 3-25) Overton (2) 100 (Miller 59).

Littleton & West Hill (9) 202 Medstead 154.

Oakley (7) 220 (Sumner 117) Wherwell 175 (Skeats 37, Sumner 5-24).

AWE Tadley 81 (Kiani 46*, Bonser 5-12) Rowledge III 220 (Norris 57, Watson 40*).

County Division 4 South

Southampton Community (9) 320 (Asim Ilyas 142, Awais Ilyas 42) Steep II (6) 194.

Ryde Cavaliers (5) 326 (Niemic 75, Higgins 62, London 78*) Bedhampton II (3) 325 (Sole 110, Wainwright 73/partnership Parvin 76*).

Old Netley & Highfield 198 (Comber 52, Hosainy 47, Limb 4-36, Hanson 4-52) Purbrook II (7) 218 (Hanson 64* Spiers 45).

Fareham & Crofton II (9) 213 (Townson 48, King 47) Mansbridge (9) 206 (Hall 59, Brewster 45).

Waterlooville II 188 (Connolly 47, Jesus 4-38) Trojans II (9) 182 (Strudley 50).

US Portsmouth II 136 (Gadd 31, Toms 30) Ryde II (5) 224 (Shannon 83*, Berendt 71).

Ampfield & North Baddesley (8) 176 (Sorrell 36*, Barrett 3-14) Froxfield (9) 178 (Cowell 62, Haslett 40*, Holding 4-40).

Gosport Borough II (8) 205 Portsmouth & Southsea II (9) 204.

County Division 4 West

Ellingham (8) 220 Winton II (5) 223.

Pylewell Park (4) 211 Stockbridge (8) 210.

Paultons II (6) 270 Burley 141.

Bournemouth III (4) 248 Southampton Travellers 184.

Hursley Park III (9) 131 Sway II 128.

Bramshaw II 189 Hythe & Dibden II (5) 288

IBM Hursley II 111 Mottisfont (4) 265.

Sparsholt II (7) 215, Farley (6) 251.

Whiteparish (5) 176 Amesbury 172.