Matt Oliver sits proudly at the top of the SEPL 2 bowling charts after his third five-wicket return of the season swept promotion chasing Hursley Park to a nine-wicket victory over lowly Tichborne Park at The Quarters.

Oliver ripped out the Tichborne middle-order with a spell of 5-16 to take his aggregate wicket haul for the season to 33.

More significantly, it helped Hursley to a maximum 22-point haul and kept them to within 19 points of leaders Basingstoke & North Hants.

Hursley need to win the top-of-the-table clash at May’s Bounty on Saturday if they are to have a chance of prising the title away from the SPL newcomers.

Derek Manning (2-18) and Nick Wheeler (1-28) ripped into Tichborne, who were reeling at 8-3 in no time.

The Allam brothers, Tom (27) and Will (33) repaired the new-ball damage but from 54-3 Tichborne collapsed to 109 all out, with Oliver taking 5-16.

An unbeaten half-century by Raman Prendergast (50 not out) in a 74-run launch by Tom Tennant (29) got Hursley the bulk of the way to their goal.

Jamie Eccles hit an unbeaten 20 to seal the nine-wicket win in the 21st over.