KINGSCLERE batsman Alfie Gibbs was the star as his side spoiled Oakley’s promotion party in Hampshire Cricket League Regional Division One North.

Oakley went into the game with an outside chance of finishing top, but could only make 193-5 batting first, a total that Kingsclere surpassed to win by four wickets, thanks in no small part to Gibbs’ score of 71.

Oakley had to settle for second place as a result, but will still move up to the County divisions next season.

Odiham and Greywell ended the season fourth in the table after a four-wicket victory over visiting Farley. Ross McGaughrin took 4-28 as the visitors were restricted to 182-8, with Paul Voisey making 60 in Odiham’s successful reply.

Sherfield-on-Loddon’s Steve Dummer hit an unbeaten 143 as his side enjoyed a 141-run victory over visiting Herriard. His knock, which included a partnership of 150 with Chris Swift (83), helped the hosts to an imposing total of 314-2, with Herriard making 173-7 in reply.

There was also a big win for Basingstoke and North Hants IV, who hosted Over Wallop. Ashley Neal took 5-11 off just 3.2 overs as the visitors were dismissed for 83 and the home side’s openers, Tom Hartgill (40 not out) and Lucas Feer (26 not out) saw their team over the line for a 10-wicket victory.

Old Basing II bowled visiting St Cross Symondians V out for 150, with Ram Chalasani taking 3-23. John Huntingdon (74 not out) and Greg Donaldson (61 not out) then got Basing over the line for an eight-wicket win.

Ramsdell and Ashford Hill suffered last-day defeats. Nigel Quelch took 4-44 as Ramsdell restricted visiting Longparish II to 173-9, but the hosts were then bowled out for 112, while Ashford Hill were unable to defend their total of 125 away at Winterbourne, losing by eight wickets.

Rotherwick ITW pulled off the great escape in Division Two North, beating Steep II to avoid the drop at the expense of St Mary’s. Both sides won on the final day, but it was St Mary’s who finished in the bottom four, though they would have survived had they picked up just one more point over the course of the season.

Rotherwick reached 198-7, with Paul Buckingham making 57, before bowling Steep out for 140, with Kyle Frost and Graham Hooper both taking three wickets.

St Mary’s were bowled out for 136 away at Andover IV, but Veeru Pokala took 8-20 as the hosts were skittled out for just 47. Unfortunately for them, the 89-run victory was not enough to keep them up.

Odiham and Greywell II are going the other way, joining their first team in Division One after finishing second. Tom Wiltshire took 5-33 and Thomas Spreadborough 3-22 as hosts Twyford were dismissed for 83, a total Odiham chased down to win by six wickets.

Silchester and Hook and Newnham Basics IV are both celebrating after winning promotion from Division Three North East.

Silchester finished second after a final-day victory at Easton and Martyr Worthy II, with Hook just behind them after losing to local rivals Hartley Wintney III.

Shaun Bradley took 3-28 as Silchester dismissed Easton and Martyr Worthy for 126 before completing a four-wicket win, while Hartley won a thriller against Hook.

Visiting Hartley looked in big trouble at 46-9 as Hook bowlers Alex Stewart (4-27) and Ollie May (3-18) ripped through the order. However, an unbroken final-wicket partnership of 93 between Tim Soper (40 not out) and Ryan Mulcahy (30 not out) saw Hartley reach 139-9.

Soper then took 4-21 with the ball, while Graham Selden claimed 3-16 as Hook were bowled out for 126, giving the visitors a 13-run win.

It wasn’t such good news for Ramsdell II and Herriard II, who were both relegated. Ramsdell’s trip to Compton and Chanders Ford III was rained off, while Herriard lost by 132 runs at home to Basingstoke and North Hants V.

Alastair Case made 54 and Richard Treen 51 as Basingstoke reached 200-7, while Gary Watts took 7-20 as Herriard were bowled out for just 68.

Old Basing III finished just outside the promotion places after beating hosts IBM Hursley II by six wickets. Sameer Gaunekar and Ambrish Vyas both took three wickets as Hursley were restricted to 160-7, while Laxmikant Sharma made 65 in Basing’s successful reply.

The two Overton teams in the division endured mixed fortunes on the final day. Lee Heaver took 3-17 as the third string dismissed Aldershot IV for 147, with Sam Cox hitting 74 as the home side won by six wickets. The second team lost by 107 runs at Otterbourne, being bowled out for just 90 chasing 197-6.

In Division Four North, champions Oakley II and second-placed Odiham and Greywell III were both without a game, while AWE Tadley II won promotion with a 140-run victory over visiting Hungerford II. Ray Patel hit 133 for Tadley as they made 253-9 before bowling their visitors out for 113 to claim third place.