Lymington's Ben Craft and Charles Forward, the hard-hitting Old Tauntonians & Romsey left-hander, made hay in the sunshine, cracking big centuries in the respective Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 victories.

Craft flayed the Hambledon attack for 139 as Lymington swept to a second consecutive win, while Forward made 136 in OTs' victory over United Services.

The lanky Craft lashed three sixes and 12 fours in his 139 as Lymington rattled up 277-9 (Brian Clemow 47) before dismissing Hambledon for 197.

The Dons responded well at 103-1, but fell apart against the penetrating spin of Glyn Treagus (5-44) and Daniel Peacock (3-19).

Forward led the way with 136 as OTs piled up 286-5 (Ian Tulk 55) against United Services in a match cut to 46 overs because the heavy roller broke down on the square before the start of play.

South African teenager John Geoghan thumped an impressive 64, but apart from Damien Carson (35), they received little support as the subtle left-arm spin of Nick Wood (4038) sent US sliding to 207 all out.

An undefeated 95 by Tim Richings carried Sparsholt to a five-wicket win over Old Basing - a victory that was not without its problems.

Chasing Old Basing's 190 (Mark Richards 76), Sparsholt were plunged into trouble at 35-4 by Mark Andrews (5-59).

But Richings found a reliable partner in Carl Nichols (54), whose century fifth-wicket partnership turned the tide in Sparsholt's favour.

Title favourites Portsmouth also got themselves out of jail, Raj Maru's side collapsing to 70-7 before Paul Dew's crucial 63 not out secured a two-wicket win over Trojans at St Helen's, Southsea.

Marvin Sandiford (4-35) single-handedly cleaned out Portsmouth's star studded top order, removing Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul (4) and former county pair Lee Savident (0) and Matthew Keech (2), before having South Africa under-19 starlet Stephen Cook (25) caught behind.

Portsmouth, responding to Trojans' 140-8 (Nigel le Bas 36, Mike Durand 25), rallied when Maru (20) joined Dew in a key 50-run eighth-wicket stand, which lifted the city club to 120-8.

Pete Hayward added a further 20 with Dew to see off the Trojans.

Newly-promoted Easton & Martyr Worthy were put in a spin by Cove pair Matt Smith (5-22) and Joe Ashton (4-13) at Cockets Mead.

The spin duo sent Easton sliding to 86 all out and a 91-run defeat after Hampshire under-19 left-hander Neil Randall (43) had top- scored in Cove's 177-8.