LISS’S County 1 promotion drive was dealt a blow when they lost on Saturday in a close encounter at bottom-placed Flamingo.

Liss won the toss and elected to have a bowl first. Baul got into the action from his first over having Heath bowled without scoring.

A partnership of 65 then occurred between Gover and Batchelor before change bowler Murphy had Batchelor caught by Cover for 31.

Cover then came into the attack and wickets started to fall at regular intervals, reducing Flamingo to 84-7, and a low target looked on the cards.

But another partnership of 75 helped Flamingo’s cause with Todd clocking up a much-needed 42 before he was caught by Janczur off Cover, with the score was on 159-8. A Heath (33*) added more valuable runs.

Flamingo, after looking as though they would set a low target, managed a respectable 179 all out thanks to the two partnerships. Cover finished with great figures of 5-26 from 6.4 overs.

Liss opened the batting with Jamie Hall and Chris Martin but lost Hall early in the fourth over when he was bowled for eight.

Liss then lost two more quick wickets with Sherborne and Cover falling cheaply, reducing Liss to a miserable 43-4.

Harry Munt then came to the crease and continued his fine form with the bat this season and started to play a valuable innings. Murphy and Janzcur added 19 each with Munt but wickets continued to fall.

Munt continued to bat well and the game started to get tense. Baul helped Munt add 31 to take Liss to 155 before he was caught for 14.

Liss frustratingly fell 20 runs short with Munt ending on 56* – a valuable, hard fought innings.

Liss meet Mudeford at the Glebe on Saturday to end the league season.