RICH Jarratt struck an unbeaten 89 as Liphook & Ripsley’s third XI earned a winning draw away to Bramley’s second XI in the I’Anson League Division 6 last Saturday.

Liphook skipper Al Lewis lost the toss and his team were invited to bat on an overcast day on a ground which looked to have absorbed torrential rain that fell over the previous 36 hours.

Runs were hard to come by and after 15 overs Liphook were stuttering at 32 for two. But although not scoring quickly, the other Liphook batsmen showed some real character in sticking at the crease to support run machine Rich Jarratt as he notched his 89 not out in a brilliant innings of watchful, selective and powerful batting.

He was ably supported at the end by Richard Grimes, who hit 19 not out, and Liphook managed to get to a total of 156 for six in 43 overs that had seemed very unlikely at the halfway point.

Spinner David Evans took four for 36, but it was Joseph Reed (none for 18 from nine overs), James Money (one for 29 from nine overs) and Duncan White (one for nine from four overs) who did so well to keep Liphook quiet in the first half of their innings.

When Liphook took the field, Bramley opener James Browne was brilliantly caught in the covers – one-handed by Rich Jarratt as the ball flew over his head – for nine when he was beginning to look dangerous, and this set the tone for the Bramley innings.

David Martin was looking to take the game to Liphook until an athletic catch by wicket-keeper Lewis, flying to his right, removed him for eight.

David Evans (15) and Andrew Martin (16) kept the Bramley score heading in the right direction, but Liphook’s spinner John Strong removed both as he notched another five-wicket haul, his second in the last three games.

Liphook’s fielders gave their bowlers tremendous support. Jarratt’s splendid catch from Richard Grimes (one for 22 from nine overs) and Frank Tickle’s superb catch to remove Duncan White for four were surpassed by a fabulous catch taken off the bowling of Des Valentine by William Longlands to remove Bramley top scorer Edward Turner for 43.

With three overs remaining Liphook sensed that victory may be within their grasp, but James Money and William Reed kept the nine close fielders at bay to see out the overs and ensure they did not lose the game, Bramley finishing on 123 for eight off their 37 overs.

Liphook’s Rich Jarratt has now scored 330 runs in seven league games this season at an average of 66.