Hartley Wintney avoid Southern League relegation (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Hartley Wintney avoid Southern League relegation

8:00am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

A NAIL biting final day to the Southern League division two campaign saw Hartley Wintney narrowly lose by 10 runs at Rowledge on Saturday.

However, the village side were not dragged into the relegation zone as Paultons and OT’s and Romsey went down.

Rowledge won the toss and elected to bat but were soon in trouble at 35-3 as Scott Baldwin (3-35) got amongst the top order.

The home side recovered thanks to Nick Morant (38) and Chris Board (24), but Mark Teale (1-29) and Chris Jolley (2-29) accounted for them and in the end Rowledge were bowled out for 155.

Hartley’s reply saw both openers back in the pavilion with the score on 24, before Baldwin (33) and Danny Flanders (11) put on 50 for the third wicket, a stand that ended when Baldwin was run out.

Julien Ford (36) top scored in the middle order, but wickets started to fall and in the end Hartley just fell just short, bowled out for 145.

Meanwhile at Burridge, Hook and Newnham Basics ended their season with a five-wicket victory that ensured they finish third in the table.

Kevin Light (4-30) and Anik Devicha (3-20) restricted Burridge to 156-8, which the visitors knocked off, with Matt Love (44 not out) top scoring.

In Thames Valley League division one, Basingstoke and North Hants won by four wickets.

A super display from Jonathan Bradley (6-58) saw visiting Kew bowled out for 93.

In reply the Bountymen reached 30-3, with Dean Nurse getting 20 of them.

From there skipper Dan Coombs (46) and Craig Williamson (18 not out) steered the side to 91-3.

Coombs was then caught in the deep and two more wickets fell without a run being scored before Williamson hit the winning boundary.

Basingstoke conclude their league campaign at Finchampstead on Saturday.