REDLYNCH and Hale fought out an absolute nail biting run chase at 10 man Petersfield to win by a slender one wicket margin in Hampshire County Division Three North.

When James Taylor called incorrectly, the hosts immediately opted to bat in the sunshine and it looked a good call as Henry Shore took a liking to the visiting attack despite Ben Brown (2-26) quickly trapping Dave Marshall in front without scoring.

Frank Straw (25) got the innings started properly, before another spate of wickets saw George Hayes (3-19) tear apart the middle order, opponents seemingly unable to deal with the spin.

Hans Mai added a 24 run cameo, but when Taylor (3-11) finally castled Shore on 92, it was just left for the skipper to clean up the tail, with a target of 174 to win being posted.

After the interval, it was to be a similar pattern as the home innings with a below par Dave Webber returning a catch to the bowler second ball, only to be followed six balls later by the big hitting Glenn Willoughby, also for a duck.

At the other end Ian Tanner was hanging on grimly as the home bowlers had their tails up and Straw was helping himself to 4-12 from nine overs. James Benson and Andy Soutar were unable to get to double figures and at 45-4 it was not looking good.

Kev Hopkins (36) applied himself as he and Tanner added another 49 before Hopkins fell to Straw.

Jack Vincent (17) gave some hope but a double disaster saw Taylor and Russ Church both back in the hutch with 132-8 on the board.

So with 42 still needed in came Hayes and with the benefit of some helpful extras he and Tanner added another 20 before Hayes was caught for five.

Last man Ben Brown, held his nerve with 22 still needed and with Tanner carrying his bat for a gutsy 66 not out, it was left to number 11 to smash the crucial four that snared the points.

Not a maximum though and with Liss also winning, the average points system saw them nudge Redlynch into third.

However, with a home fixture against lowly Chawton next up, Taylor will fancy his sides chances of leapfrogging back to 2nd.

Success breeds success, they say, and despite no game for the last two weeks thanks to other sides crying off, the second XI stormed back into action at Woodfalls Cross with a comfortable five wicket win over East Woodhay.

Tom Emm (3-30) was the pick of the bowlers as the visitors with only 10 men, posted 190 with Batchelor (72) their mainstay.

Tom Bayford (25) and Ewan Tanner (39) got off to the right start before an unbeaten 51 from Ben Vincent saw them home with 10 overs in hand, making it nine wins out of nine to keep them firmly on top of Regional Division One North West.

They have a crucial game coming up with third placed Shrewton.

The current depth strength of the club showed again as the club's third string amassed 242-9 against lowly Whiteparish II, who could only muster 10 players.

Ben Lindsay (30) Nathan Pollard (34) and Colin Eveleigh (44) and all the team contributing with runs.

In reply, only 15-year-old Ollie Dovey (24) showed some resilience as Richard Barlow (4-7) and a brace apiece for Pollard (2-14) and Harry Cobern (2-15).

Spare a thought for 'Parish opener Geoff Dear though, who was determined not to throw his wicket away, and stonewalled 22 overs before being caught, but without scoring.