Liphook & Ripsley v Hook & Newnham Basics: LIPHOOK and Ripsley slipped to a close three-wicket defeat at home to Hook and Newnham Basics on Saturday afternoon in Division 1 of the Southern Premier Cricket League.

Opener Rob Nicklin fell for a duck, but Ryan Covey and Gabriel Broadhurst put on 78 for the second wicket before Covey fell for 54.

Suman Ganguly scored a fluent 22, and Broadhurst fell for 39, before George Neave kept the momentum going with a quickfire 50 off 54 balls which featured three fours and two sixes.

Liphook finished their allotted 50 overs on 233-9.

The visitors lost opener Josh Buckingham early on for six, but captain Ben Thane and Matt Love added 71 for the second wicket before Love fell for 33.

Thane eventually fell for 67, and Matthew Buckingham (25), Nicholas Willcock (24), Kieran Thomson (12) and Richard Willcock (17) all made useful contributions as the visitors inched towards victory.

It was left to Rhodes Franklin (24 not out) and Aniket Divecha (four not out) to seal Hook’s victory with just three balls of the innings remaining.