SOUTH WILTS II BLOW TITLE CLINCHER

The celebratory champagne remains on ice at Lower Bemerton as South Wilts second team blew their chance of being crowned Hampshire League champions.
Needing ten points to be assured of the County Division 1 crown, they crashed to a 78-run defeat against promotion chasing Waterlooville.  It was South Wilts’ first defeat of the summer – ironically in their 13th match !  The Ville escaped from 74-7 to post 171 – John Burnett cracked an unbeaten 51 – and then reduced South Wilts from 40-0 to 93 all out on a deteriorating surface.  The result means South Wilts still require another 11 points to take the championship, starting at Purbrook on Saturday.
Waterlooville’s win cut second placed Fawley’s advantage to six points – the oilmen’s home match with Ryde being abandoned after ten overs, by which time Fawley had put 50 runs on the board.
Alton II could still feature in the promotion charge.  They beat Portchester by 46 runs – teenager Tom Paul (pictured) took 6-53 - but need three maximum-point wins to climb above Fawley or Waterlooville.
Teenage duo James Cheek (5-30) and Henry Bartlett (53) pointed Ventnor II to a 14th straight win and a step closer to the County Division 3 title.  Rivals Rowledge II and St Cross Symondians III both won to stay second and third, respectively.