SOUTH Wilts seconds finished an agonising four runs short of victory after a terrific effort to chase down the towering 286-7 posted by Hartley Wintney, who are fast rising Southern Premier League Division 2 after a three-match losing start.

They appeared to be in the hunt at 257-4, but without a recognised batsman at the crease in the crucial closing stages, they lost five wickets for 26 runs and the game by a boundary hit. They finished 283-9.

Hartley captain Danny Plume led by example with the bat with a superb 127, which saw him hit 11 fours and two sixes.

This was after openers Matthew Kerr (35) and Tom Garwood (27) gave them a solid start.

Patrick Joseph (42) also had another good day with the bat, as the village side posted a match winning 286-7, with Tom Pearce taking 3-49.

South Wilts made a fine start as openers Owain Phillips (49) and Tom Cowley (53) put on 109 for the first wicket, before both departed in the space of two runs.

Tasmanian Garwood (5-39) was the pick of the home bowlers and removed Rob Pittman (9) caught and bowled as South Wilts reached 130-3.

Ben Draper (59) and Pearce (37) kept their side in the hunt with a fourth wicket stand worth 83 runs.

Then Draper and Stephen Kidd (27) moved the score to 257-6.

At this point, Plume (2-45) and Garwood got among the wickets as the visitors found themselves 269-8 and then 281-9 with Draper out.

Last pair James Wade and Matt Burton were unable to get the visitors over the finishing line as finished three runs short.