BANKS CENTURY SENDS BOROUGH AND P & S DOWN

David Banks returned to his Sarisbury Athletic roots to hit 150 and save Totton & Eling’s struggling second team from relegation to the Hampshire League.
Banks, one of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League’s prominent all-rounders, spent his formative years as a youngster playing at Sarisbury Green.  He dropped down to the Eels’ 2nd XI alongside left-arm pace bowler Dan Goldstraw in a last, desperate bit to keep the side up. The pair succeeded in some style, a career-best knock from Banks helping Totton post a formidable 276-6 before Goldstraw took 3-23 as Sarisbury Athletic were skittled for 91.  
The 185-run victory at Allotment Road ensured that Totton & Eling II finished three points above Gosport Borough, whose own relegation was confirmed by a 50-run defeat at Bashley (Rydal) II. Gosport are demoted alongside Portsmouth & Southsea, who went down fighting with a surprise 19-run win over fourth-placed Liphook & Ripsley.
Totton slipped to 30-2 before Banks enjoyed century partnerships with Nick Edens (43) and Nick Jenkin (48) to take their score to 276-6.  Sarisbury’s batting fell apart against Goldstraw (3-23), Edens (2-41) and Mike Kingston (3-6).
A run out of the very last ball of the season cost Gosport Borough promotion at the end of 2009.
Twelve months on, the Privett Park club are relegated to the Hampshire League after losing their 11th match in 14 to Bashley (Rydal) II, who needed to win to survive themselves.  Neil Taylor turned back the clock to produce a vintage performance, hitting 65 as Bashley rallied from an uncertain 66-4 to make 191-7 and then bowl his side to victory with a spell of 5-27, which saw Gosport sink to 141 all out (Mike Rees 39).
The results were a real kick in the teeth for Portsmouth & Southsea, who upset the formbook by surprising Liphook & Ripsley at St James’s Park by 19 runs.  Leo Olwage (68) top scored in the P & S total of 173 (Peter Woodland 5-43) after which Liphook, who began the day still harbouring outside promotion hopes, crashed to 33-4.  Harry Hooper (41), Chris Martin (40) and Harry Munt (29) rallied, but a four-wicket spell by Dave Chisholm (4-28) reduced them to 154 all out.  The result briefly lifted P & S out of the drop zone – until news of Totton’s win at Sarisbury Athletic became public.
Tom Viljoen hit 95 as Sparsholt’s season ended on a positive note with a 40-run win over Fareham & Crofton at the Norman Edwards Ground.  In-form Tim Vokes (58) did his bit as Sparsholt effectively batted Fareham out of the game.  Richard Webb’s unbeaten 67 eased Fareham’s reply to 227-8, Luke Gould (41) and Tim Dix (35) providing support.
Portsmouth and Hambledon finished first and second, respectively after their potential championship decider at St Helen’s, Southsea was called off due to an unfit pitch.
Third placed Tichborne Park, who thrashed local rivals Easton & Martyr Worthy by eight wickets.  Tom Allam tore into the EMW top order and ripped out the top three batsmen before the score reached double figures.  Andy Birch (40) and Steve Green (48) steadied the ship but Allam, who finished with a season’s best 6-19, and elder brother Will (2-28) wrecked the tail, reducing Easton from 137-5 to 139 all out, the last four wickets falling without addition.  Tichborne suffered an early setback, but cruised to victory on the back of an unbroken 98-run third-wicket stand between Ed Primmer (34) and Brenton Edwards, who made an unbeaten 48.
Trojans ran amok against United Services at Stoneham Lane, hitting a league best 334-8 – a remarkable score considering they were 85-4 at one stage !  Sunil Nagandla (66) and Jamie Truscott, who made 94 on debut, added 86 for the fifth wicket before Jamie Donaldson biffed 65 to put Trojans out of sight.  Donaldson then struck with the ball, taking 5-61 as only Richard Marshall, with 64 not out, fought back in a disappointing US 125-run reply.
Darren Vann cracked an unbeaten 111, including a six and 16 fours, as Calmore Sports cruised to a seven-wicket win over St Cross Symondians II at the RGJ Ground.  St Cross posted 175 (Chris Marlow 56) but once Vann and Michael Wallace (43) shared a 97-run start, Calmore were always headed for victory.
Grieg Stewart was the inspiration behind Fair Oak’s 64-run win at Old Tauntonians & Romsey.  He dug Oaks out of trouble at 114-7 with a key 35 and later took two early wickets as OTs ran into early trouble chasing 169 (Jamie King 3-13).  Tom Hockenhall (33), Mark Burrell (31) and Ed Kemp (30) also made runs for Fair Oak, but Max Smith (42) lacked much support was OTs slid to 105 all out, Rhys Oxley taking 3-14 late on.