THREE games to go and three points in it. The Hampshire League County Division 1 championship race is headed for a photo-finish!

Fair Oak continue to lead the field, despite crashing to a 60-run defeat at high-scoring Bramshaw, but are now only three points clear of Andover II, who closed the gap with an 81-run win over St Cross Symondians.

Adam Ridgeway (85), Jamie Terris (52) and Andrew Hart (50) put the Fair Oak bowlers to the sword as Bramshaw piled up 299-7 and then bowled the leaders out for 239 (Mark Thorne 55).

Ian Gardner's spell of 6-40 ripped St Cross Symondians out for 116 after Andover had posted 197-8.

Locks Heath paid the penalty for dropping Nick Gerrard off the first ball of Tichborne Park's visit to Warsash Road.

Gerrard went on to smack 110 as Tichborne reached 260, but only just clung on as Locks Heath - handicapped by Alex Richardson's dislocated finger - closed at 256-9.

An unbeaten 101 by Jon Ham swept Eastleigh & Otterbourne to a seven-wicket win at Burridge, while Ahmed Khan (145) and Naz Ayub (110) shared an unbroken 258-run partnership as Langley Manor hit a towering 305-1 at Flamingo.

Iain Soutar's century guided Redlynch & Hale to a seven-wicket win over Fareham & Crofton (213), whose influential all-rounder Graham Marchant was due to have played his farewell game after moving to Scotland today.

But Marchant is set to drive back to Fareham for Saturday's visit to Langley Manor!

Lymington II edged a thrilling one-run win over Old Tauntonians & Romsey II, but Sarisbury Athletic's prospects of avoiding the drop took a knock with a 95-run defeat at United Services.

Calmore Sports II look set for relegation after fellow strugglers Waterlooville won by 93 runs at Loperwood Park.

Hythe & Dibden are in danger of missing the County Division 2 promotion boat after suffering a five-wicket defeat by Hursley Park, who lie third behind Petersfield and BAT Sports.

Paul Hungerford took 9-17 as Portchester routed Steep for 58 to remain on the coat-tails of leaders New Milton, who won easily at IBM Hursley.

Sarisbury Athletic IV schoolboy pair Mike Cripps made 105 not out and Hugh Walkin 54 in the 192-4 run total, but were unable to prevent a 46-run win by Portchester.