HURSLEY Park and Sparsholt are battling neck and neck to avoid the second-from-bottom relegation spot in Premier Division 2.
Langley Manor look doomed – they are 34 points adrift of safety – but there’s only two bonus points in it between the Winchester pair, who clash on August 15.
Zimbabwean left-hander Bothwell Chapungu, pictured, cracked a boundary-strewn 110 as Hursley Park raced to a four-wicket win at Paultons, who themselves could still be sucked into the relegation scrap if they fail to halt their losing run.
Most of the Paultons batsmen made starts in a total of 204-9 – Scott Hills (41) top scored – but Chapungu’s no nonsense approach to batting carried Hursley to victory.
Sparsholt’s eight-wicket win over Tichborne Park at Locks Lane was even more comprehensive.
But, headed into the run-in, they are two points adrift of neighbours Hursley Park.
Jon Vokes (4-33), Mike Howarth (2-17) and Mike Doubell (2-22) did the damage as Tichborne were skittled for 102 (Martin Cheyney 32).
Stu Tognarelli (32) and Howarth (24) pointed Sparsholt to an easy but crucial victory.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here