South Wilts face a ‘must win’ visit to Burridge on Saturday after being bowled off the top of the ECB British Gas Southern Premier Division by Bashley (Rydal).

Michael Porter hit an unbeaten 60 as Bashley (Rydal) eased to a five-wicket victory - and rekindled their own title hopes in the process.

The defeat dropped South Wilts one place in the log to second, effectively four points behind Lymington, who have reclaimed top spot.

South Wilts’ remaining three games after the Burridge trip are against New Milton, Havant and St Cross Symondians.

Porter’s key fourth-wicket partnership with Josh Digby (29) calmed Bashley nerves after the visitors had slipped to 65-3 in response to South Wilts’ 169 all out.

They had lost South Australian Patrick Page (26) six runs earlier and South Wilts sniffed a chance if they could breakthrough again.

But Porter, with only one previous fifty-plus score this summer, steadied the ship, eking out precious runs which set Bashley on their way before Digby was caught at slip at 139-4 off Luke Evans (4-28). The pair added 64.

Porter went on to hit ten boundaries in his match winning 60 not out.

Earlier, South Wilts made a steady start through Will Wade (29) and Owain Phillips (24), but were generally kept in check by some steady Bashley bowling.

Jack Mynott (39) top scored, but from 112-3 the innings gradually the innings subsided - Digby taking 3-24 – and it needed a handy knock from James Hibberd (20 not out) at the tail end to give the South Wilts’ bowlers a modest total to defend.