HOOK & Newnham Basics have lost their position among the leading 10 clubs in the top flight of ECB Southern Premier League cricket.

A six-wicket defeat from a high scoring duel at Lymington confirmed they will finish bottom of the table, irrespective of the outcome of Saturday's visit to the KGV by the title chasing Hampshire Academy.

Relegation back to Division 1 in 2023 means they will renew rivalries with arch rivals Basingstoke & North Hants and not have to go to the expense of playing all-day 'time' cricket for next summer at least.

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"I reckon it costs us in the region of £600 every time we host an all-day game. Lunches are an expensive outlay and, when we play 50-over 'white ball' stuff, we have to blacken the sightscreens and so on," said Hook chairman Keith Lovelock.      

Hook did at least give a decent account of themselves at Lymington, where they posted a competitive 276-7 (Harry Warner 36) against a bowling attack, which included Northants' all-rounder Gareth Berg, who managed just one wicket.

Hook's total was built around a 112-run partnership between Richard Willcock (72) and left-hander Harry Robson (58), who made his third fifty in recent weeks.

The Buckingham brothers put on 63 for the fifth wicket - Matthew scored 39 and Josh 30 - but then the innings subsided as three wickets fell for just seven runs.

Lymington had lost their previous three 50-over matches but Ben Rogers and Terry Crabb (38) put on 70 before Crabb was out to the pick of the Hook bowlers, Matt Simpson (2-27).

Rogers went on to make only his second century since 2014, adding 73 with Conor Moors and later 103 with Ryan Scott (62) in just 15 overs.

They almost saw Lymington home before Rogers was out to a loose shot, his  innings containing 14 fours.

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Hook's seconds lost by 94 runs to OTs & Romsey, for whom Harry Tulk made 125 and Charlie King 63. Sam Gee (50), Sam Bruin (34) and Rupes Armstrong 30 responded in an all-out total of 174.

They too will be relegated unless they win their last match at high riding Andover.