BRAMSHAW are trying to come to terms with how they scored almost 600 runs last weekend - yet still managed to lose two games of cricket!

They chalked up 289-4 before suffering a third successive Hampshire League, County Division 1 loss to Fareham & Crofton.

Twenty-four hours later they rattled up 305-9, only to lose an amazing npower Village Cup county semi-final to ten-man Michelmersh & Timsbury by five wickets.

Jamie Terris smacked 116 off 54 balls against Fareham & Crofton - his cavalier innings including six sixes and 16 fours - as Bramshaw rattled up 289-4.

After rain had interrupted proceedings, Bramshaw's target score became 223 off 37 overs - a total Fareham polished off through Kevin Light's unbeaten 82 and a gutsy 71 from Richard Webb.

But worse was to follow. Michelmersh & Timsbury, a Regional 1 North side who play five divisions below Bramshaw in the Hampshire League pyramid, pitched up with only ten men, no umpire or scorer - or even a ball - for their Village Cup semi-final tie.

Bramshaw took full advantage, with Andrew Hart (104) and Simon Booth (56) powering the New Forest club to 217-2, only for Tom White to take 5-40 and restrict Brams to 305-9.

Bramshaw still thought the job was done - but Paul Hurle (72), Rob Green (69) and Martin Headley, with a match-winning 89 not out, got M&T home at 306-5 with five wickets in hand and two balls to spare.

Michelmersh visit Paultons - who beat Easton & Martyr Worthy with a John Harris six off the last ball - in the county final at Whitemoor Lane on Sunday week, June 13.

Terris was not the only County Division 1 batsman to score a century - and still finish on the losing side.

Simon Creal hit 115 for Burridge II but was unable to prevent a five-wicket Redlynch & Hale win, while Winchester College captain James Burridge scored a maiden 105 as St Cross Symondians made 228-2 - only to lose to Eastleigh & Otterbourne, who posted 317.

Top dogs Tichborne Park won easily at Flamingo but are still trailed at the top by Andover II (five wicket winners at Locks Heath), Fair Oak, who crushed United Services, and Old Tauntonians & Romsey II, who earned a faster-scoring-rate win over Sarisbury Athletic.

Alan Whitman's club record 157 for St Cross Symondians against Fareham & Crofton on May 22 lasted a mere seven days.

Matt Hope topped it with a blistering 202 against Regional 3 (North East) rivals St Mary's (Basingstoke) - an innings which included nine sixes and 22 fours.

St Cross posted 339-2 (Will Bayliss 59, Ali Montgomery 48) and restricted St Mary's to 165-6.