Purbrook II

LIPHOOK seconds suffered another heavy defeat at home to Purbrook by the wide gulf of 190 runs.

Liphook could muster only nine players and having won the toss, Purbrook skipper Andy Holder had no hesitation in batting first. Despite losing an early wicket, the visitors made rapid progress against a limited Liphook attack.

The highest stand was 89 for the fourth wicket between Graham McCoy, who made 80 from 65 balls, and Matt Lee who held the middle and late stages of the innings together with a cultured 61*.

There were also useful contributions from James Iles (29), Chris Berry (22) and Dave Cleeve (19) as Purbrook reached an imposing 289-9 after 45 overs. Ben Cronshaw took four wickets and Elliott Hawkins and Tristan Rissik two each.

Liphook lost Michael Smyth to an excellent one-handed caught and bowled by Nigel Kenny early on and lost wickets regularly thereafter. Richard Strong batted patiently for 23, and Rissik (22) and captain Paul Brighton (19) put on 35 in a brief period of entertainment, but the depleted home side were routed for 99 after 30.1 overs.

Craig Marsh and McCoy took three wickets apiece and Kenny two.

With a maximum six league fixtures remaining, Liphook face a mountain to climb if they are to stay up in County 2. They are at Hamble ASSC on Saturday.

Liphook IV v Burghclere

PUT IN, Liphook fourths made hard work of things and at 65-5 a low total looked on the cards.

The middle order rescued the situation, Ross James (13) as anchor man with contributions of 16 from Tristan Barclay and a fine 28 from George Castley. Liphook batted the full 42 overs and finished with a defendable 141-8. Gill took 4-32 in 10 overs.

Liphhok's opening bowlers took the first two Burghclere wickets for one run, but Neal (29) and Bingham (20) staged a rescue. With Burghclere at 84-6, Liphook looked strong favourites.

Burghclere keeper O'Flynn then produced a fine 28 to take them to the brink of victory, and number 10 Rush hit three fours to Burghclere a two-wicket victory.