New Milton and Sarisbury Athletic knocked Premier Division opposition out of the Southern Electric twenty20 Cup to leave South Wilts the only ‘top’ club left in tonight’s semi-final draw.

Milton edged out Ventnor in a last-ball thriller at Fernhill, while Sarisbury Athletic accounted for 2009 cup winners Lymington in a comparatively low scoring affair at The Hollow, writes MIKE VIMPANY.

South Wilts predictably thrashed Old Tauntonians & Romsey by 110 runs at Bemerton, while Burridge enjoyed a two-over cushion chasing down a Langley Manor total of 142-5 to win by six wickets.

The draw for semi-finals on Sunday week (July 7) contains three SPL Division 1 clubs and only South Wilts from the Premier Division’s top flight.

The four teams will be playing for a place in the floodlight final at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday, July 24.

Having knocked out local rivals Bashley (Rydal) in the previous round, New Milton were quietly optimistic of a ‘giant killing’ repeat against Ventnor – but they almost made a hash of what appeared a fairly straightforward run chase.

Beaten by the Hampshire Academy and knocked off the top of the Premier Division the previous day, Ventnor never got on top of the New Milton attack at any stage.

Star duo, South Australia’s Travis Head and Hampshire 2nd XI prospect Jake George went cheaply, while Oli Mills took 51 balls over his 48.

Neil Westhorpe made 21 and James Cheek an unbeaten 29, but Ventnor were left to rue the 48 dot balls they faced.

Ventnor’s modest 126-4 looked easy pickings for New Milton after teenager Toby Jackson blazed a quick-fire 36, including three sixes, off 25 balls at the top of the innings.

Jackson was full of confidence having hit a career-best 143 not out for his KES school team against Bloxham School in Oxfordshire the previous day.

When James Park (36) and David Wheeler (20) took New Milton on to 107, victory seemed a formality but some tight overs – Charlie Calloway took 1-13 off his three – suddenly made it the ask difficult.

New Milton needed eight runs off the last over by Mills, who conceded two singles before Dan Loader hit a four and was then was run out.

The scores were level 126 each when the last ball was bowled – and New Milton needed a single to avoid being dragged into an ‘eliminator’ over.

Nicky Elliott hit his shot straight to Hugh Calloway, who seemed to ‘freeze’ with the ball in his hand allowing the little spin all-rounder time to dive in for the winning run.

Lymington’s bowlers were on top for the first half of the Sarisbury Athletic innings at the Hollow – the current Division 1 leaders slipped to 50-4 before Peter Hammond (32) and Joe Lovett (26) righted the ship.

The last over bowled by Glyn Treagus (3-28) went for 19 – Simon Orr (16) giving Lymington a testing 124-7 to chase against a lively bowling attack.

Despite one wayward Lovett over, Lymington lurched to 28-3 before Cameron Grierson (24) and Simon Beetham pulled things round.

But Lymington’s season-old batting fragilities surfaced again and they were bowled out for 90, Dave Banks finishing with 3-22.

Old Tauntonians & Romsey, enjoying a rare pilgrimage in the t20, got the worst of the quarter-final draw when they pulled out an away tie against South Wilts.

The Bemerton outfit cashed in, smashing the OTs attack for 221-4 before rounding off an easy 110-run win.

James Hayward slammed the OTs bowling to all parts, hitting four sixes and ten fours – 64 of his 70 runs coming in boundaries.

He dominated a 104-run start with Joe Cranch (39) before Rob Pitman hit 50 and Rob Franklin 38 as South Wilts made the joint third highest total in t20 history.

Franklin took 4-16 as OTR made 111 all out in reply, Rob Newman scoring 42.