The solid grip New Milton appeared to have on the Southern Electric Premier League Division 1 championship race after last week’s dramatic 270-run chase at Sarisbury Athletic is no more.

A first defeat in ten matches – inflicted by mid-table Hambledon – means New Milton are effectively now only four points ahead of Sarisbury Athletic, with four games to play.

While New Milton were slipping up against Hambledon, Sarisbury nailed Hursley Park by seven wickets.

New Milton’s 100 per cent winning record was ended in extraordinary fashion courtesy of a five-run defeat by Hambledon at Fernhill.

Although Lee Beck (2-40), Lynton Staniford (2-38) and Ben Lawes (2-32) were among the wickets, the visitors – bowled out for just 47 in the reverse fixture in May – posted 224-9, with former Andover left-hander Rob Atkins (70) and Nono Pongolo (63) top scoring.

Despite Mark House (35) hanging around, his partners disappeared with alarming regularity as New Milton slumped to 62-7 in reply, with Pongolo taking 4-41.

However, number eight Toby Edwards sparked an amazing recovery as the Green & Golds looked to salvage victory from the jaws of defeat.

Teenage Trojans hockey talent Edwards (80) hit 10 fours and three sixes in his 53-ball stay, sharing 78 for the eighth wicket with Lee Beck and 34 for the ninth with George Watts (31*).

But despite their efforts, New Milton eventually came up short at 219-9.

Sarisbury, meanwhile, crushed nearly relegated Hursley Park by seven wickets after James Ingram (3-13) and Dan Goldstraw (5-17) routed the hosts for 90.

Martin Ford’s 3-32 caused some early hiccups for Sarisbury, but Jack Lovett (33) and Kieran Geyle (24) saw the visitors home.

Ben Bridgen maintained his impressive form as Bournemouth recorded a four-wicket win over Basingstoke & North Hants at May’s Bounty.

Bridgen (53) laid the foundations for the Lions to chase down Basingstoke’s 140-9 in a match reduced to 33 overs a side.

Earlier, Mike Kitson (2-15) and Matthew Jones (2-28) had reduced the hosts to 43 for four before Dave Kidner (2-23) also chipped in.

And after Bridgen had paved the way for victory, Jake Hurley (33) remained unbeaten as Bournemouth reached 142-6 with four balls in hand.