LECKFORD were left searching for the light at the end of the tunnel after slipping to a 25-run defeat to fellow strugglers Hambledon.

Hambledon opted to bat first on a drying track, and Burdekin (55) and Scutt (20) made steady progress to 49 before Martin Smithson removed Scutt with his second ball of the day.

Mark Tomlinson (2-50) claimed the vital wickets of Burdekin and the dangerous Le Clercq (17), and Andy Cattle (3 for 57) then had Lagana caught by a juggling Miles Bulpitt for 18, leaving Hambledon 123 for 4 with 16 overs left.

Then, the visitors were let off the hook by some indifferent bowling from a normally-reliable Leckford spin trio and some schoolboy errors in the field. Chakrabarti (52) and De Mellow (34) were the main benefactors in a stand of 83, but Leckford rallied well with Cattle clean bowling both men and Paul Bradbury (1-31) returning to claim a late wicket and a run out.

With 223 for 8 on the board at tea, the home side were left to reflect on the thirty-odd runs too many that their visitors had made.

Those runs were to prove crucial in this game, and maybe even in the shake-up at the end of the season. Leckford fell 25 short in their chase although the pendulum swung to and fro throughout the innings.

They got off to the worst possible start as Donaldson (2-19) and Lagana (2-47) broke through, and were soon struggling at 35 for 3.

Mark Tomlinson (41) and Mark Costin then set about rebuilding the innings, and took the score to through to 75. Tomlinson and Simon Reeves then fell quickly, but Nick Bolshaw (36) looked to have found some form and together with Costin seemed to be helping Leckford towards a much-needed victory.

The sixth wicket pairing added 65 before Bolshaw hammered a wide long hop straight at cover point.

While Cattle (8) remained with Costin the home side were still in with a chance, but impressive bowling from Hambledon's skipper James Brighton (1-16) and Chakrabarti (5-49) brought about Leckford's downfall.

Cattle went with the score at 189 and Costin soon followed for a valiant 60. Chakrabarti dismissed Leckford's remaining three batsmen at 198 to cap a fine all round performance and condemn Leckford to another sombre White Hart inquest.