Hartley Wintney v Liphook & Ripsley: AFTER a commanding second-wicket stand of 144 by opener Chris Martin (66) and number three Giles Cover (70), the rest of Liphook’s batsmen were unable to establish themselves as the visitors fell to a 15-run defeat at Hartley Wintney.

Put into bat, the hosts lost opener Jason Knibbs for a duck caught behind off Suman Ganguly.

Thereafter, partner Hugo Hammond carried on with admirable patience with a 90-ball 64. Roy Cockram (20) and Jamie Teale (25) chipped in with useful runs, but it was skipper Will Ross with an unbeaten 70 who led the hosts to a total of 246-7.

Ganguly (3-35) and Sean Burton (2-31) were the pick of the bowlers, and there was a wicket each for Chaz Janczur (1-40) and Harry Munt (1-35).

The Liphook reply followed a similar pattern with Munt falling early on, but the visitors increasingly took control. Martin recorded his first half-century of the season with an excellent 66.

Giles Cover played with fluency before he was bowled by Teale for 70.

At 162-1 Liphook were well placed, but both Martin and Cover went quickly to leave two new batsmen at the crease at 167-3.

Thereafter, Liphook surrendered their wickets much too easily, none bettering Sean Burton’s 15. Returning seamers Anthony Parson (3-59) and the impressive Teale (4-47) were the main destroyers as Liphook were dismissed for 231.