IT’S TIGHT AT THE TOP OF PREMIER 3

Eight points separate the top four clubs in Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 going into the last three weeks of the season.
Portsmouth pinched the lead back from rain-ravaged Hambledon after beating Trojans by four wickets at St Helen’s, Southsea.  But Tichborne Park and Liphook & Ripsley, who beat St Cross Symondians II comfortably, are only just behind.
Trojans got away to a decent enough start at St Helen’s, with Simon Williams (27) and Jack Lovett (29) easing the visitors to 77-1 before James Wright (4-30) had both batsmen caught behind.
Nigel le Bas (25) held things together after that, but a total of 162, subsequently trimmed to 153 off 44 overs, was never likely to test Portsmouth.  Farshan Jemildar (67) led the way, although spin duo Hal Mohammed (3-48) and Paul Williams (3-35) caused a flutter or two after Portsmouth dropped from 111-1 to 129-6 before Pete Hayward cracked 20 not out to end their worries.
Hambledon, who had held top spot for just one week, were promptly dethroned with their Ridge Meadow clash with in-form Calmore Sports was abandoned.  It was probably just as well as Paul Cass (3-8) had the Dons reeling at 54-4 in pretty grim conditions when the umpires called a halt to proceedings after 21 overs.
Off-spinner Alan Crawford bowled Liphook & Ripsley to a 30-run win over St Cross Symondians II with a season’s best 6-31 return at Ripsley Park.  Only Nigel Miller (23) and Chris Marlow (25) made much of a fist of it as St Cross dipped to 118, after Liphook’s 212-8 (Peter Woodland 52) had been cut to 148 by rain.
Tichborne Park continue to breath down the necks of the pacemakers after an emphatic 100-run win over United Services at Burnaby Road.  But their promotion hopes will surely hinge on the outcome of a ‘must win’ showdown with Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday.  They struggled for a while after being put into bat, with Damian Carson (2-34) and Dave Cox (2-52) reducing the visitors to 77-4.  Tom Allam (23) got the recovery underway with an important 61-run fifth-wicket stand with Martin Cheyney (48), whose subsequent 78-run partnership with former Charterhouse wicketkeeper Henry Don (45) took Tichborne on to 206.  Mick Rose (5-31) caused Tichborne to collapse – they last five wickets fell for ten runs – but a total of 216 – reduced by rain to 194 off 40 overs – was well beyond United Services’ reach.  US fell apart against Queenslander Brenton Edwards, pictured) and a sorry 30-4 soon became 72-6 and eventually 94 all out.  Edwards finished with 4-20 and Mickey Butler 3-20.  Charlie Forward (66 not out) and Nick DeStefano (61) shared a 141-run opening stand as OTs & Romsey crushed relegation threatened Totton & Eling II by nine wickets at Southern Gardens.  Totton were going well at 138-2 – Josh Metcalfe (48) and Leon Mooney (32) – but Max Smith stepped in to take 5-47 and reduce the hosts to 204 all out.
Fair Oak plunged Gosport Borough deeper into relegation trouble, winning a rain-affected encounter at Privett Park by three wickets.  Gosport started with a stand of 96 between Australian Alex Machin (74) and Simon Creal (53), but took 29 overs to amass those runs.  After a heavy shower caused an hour’s interruption, Borough lost wickets while improving their run-rate.  John Adams hit a rapid 32, but economical spells by Greig Stewart and Ed Kemp were to prove crucial.  Facing a target of 187 to win in 37 overs – Borough had made 218-6 in 50 overs - Oaks got off to a rapid start though Andy Sturman, who hit ex-Oaks paceman Tim Ndowora for three consecutive fours before, next ball, edging to keeper Wateridge.  Stuart Martin also quickly succumbed to Ndowora (3-37), but a third-wicket stand of 89 between skipper Kemp (59) and Tom Hockenhull (63) put the visitors ahead of the clock and on the way to victory.
Easton & Martyr Worthy’s visit to Fareham & Crofton was abandoned after 36 overs because of heavy rain.  EMW were well placed too – an unbeaten 68 by John Sparks having guided the visitors to 163-3 when a storm halted play.
Cape Town all-rounder Darren Rolfe produced a splendid one-man show as Sarisbury Athletic beat Sparsholt by 30 runs in another rain affected affair at Allotment Road.  Rolfe came to the party after Sarisbury, who had begun well through Simon Orr (45) and Chris Mottola (32), had slipped to 152-6 (Mike Doubell 3-26).  But the South African flayed the Sarisbury bowlers all around the park in the last 15 overs to push the total to 272-9   Rain cut Sparsholt’s chase to 183 off 26 overs but, after a double strike by Rolfe (4-4-38) and further inroads created by Phil Jewell (5-41), only Lewis Dunford (74) and teenager Henry Wakefield (20) made much impression.  Sparsholt’s middle-order went from 129-4 to 138-9 as the seamers ran amok.