SPCL 3 - Three teams vying for league leadership

Just two points separate the top three in Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3, where Hambledon, Purbrook and Alton continue to set the early pace. The trio all won again, with Hambledon inflicting Paultons' second consecutive defeat, Purbrook edging out Gosport Borough and Alton overhauling Hartley Wintney's 209-4.

Hambledon, relegated from Premier 2 last season, wobbled at 20-2 before cruising past Paultons' 204-7 at Ridge Meadow.

Colin James (85), who forged a 122-run opening partnership with Duncan Park (39), took his tally past the 200 mark and then celebrated when team-mate Paul Wilde trapped Imre Chakrabarti and Rob Norris leg before.

Former Hampshire spinner Ian Turner dominated the stage thereafter, hitting an unbeaten 82 and sharing an unbroken century fifth wicket stand with Matt Jones (40) as the Dons eased home.

Gosport, struggling in fourth from bottom position, took Purbrook to the wire - the visitors struggling at 125-6 (Will Prozesky 46) against Mark Oxford (4-31) and Nathan Collins (3-47) before Wayne Musselwhite's key 29 not out took them to 174.

A five-wicket blast from Mark Stanley (5-39) had Borough wobbling at 85-6, but John Adams (49) and Richard Edwards (26) almost swung it round as Gosport closed at 168-8.

In-form Matt Digweed (71 not out) and Tristan Gregory (41) cashed in against Alton's below par bowling and fielding but Hartley Wintney were unable to defend 209-4. Michael Heffernan's clean cut 96 guided the visitors home.

Favourites St Cross Symondians bounced back in style from the previous weekend's surprise defeat at Portsmouth.

They were far too strong for newly promoted Redlynch & Hale, with Kiwi Mark Parker hammering an unbeaten 127 in a formidable 254-4 (Marc Rees 57).

Spin pair Matt Perry-Lewis (4-22) and Will Marriner (4-26) bowled the Wiltshire border side out for 81.

"It was a win we needed after what happened the previous week, but to be honest we weren't stretched," confessed Perry-Lewis.

Portsmouth continued in a winning vein, with James Scott (3-22), Mike Clark (3-30) and Rick Marston (3-42) bowling Leckford out for 97 at chilly St Helen's, Southsea.

James Moon (42) and Clark (31) earlier cemented Portsmouth's position, although spinner Andy Cattle deserved better after a 6-28 return in PCC's 190-9.

A seven-wicket defeat by Hursley Park has left Hook & Newnham Basics propping up the table - a century start by Raman Prendergast (64) and John Harris (58) pointing the Park towards their hosts 172-9 (Tom Burns 3-15).

Matt Gover was in such a tizz after Havant's double defeats by Leckford and Purbrook that he vowed not to shave until his team won.

But a fortnight's fluff disappeared from his cheeks after debut centurion Simon Greenfield and JJ Owen - plus a helping hand from 13 year old Stuart Ransley - put previously unbeaten New Milton to flight.

Greenfield, who spent most of his 1st XI days occupying Havant's No 11 slot, has taken to his new second team opening role like a duck to water and was elated at his best ever 117 not out.

Jon Owen, who hit an accomplished 60, was a middle-order batsman in his Portsmouth Grammar School days, but he too has added a touch of polish to his batting.

The pair pointed Havant to 255-4 before Ransley's spell of 4-18 (chronicled elsewhere on this page) helped send New Milton crashing to 133 all out (John Dolman 35).

Ventnor at long last had something to cheer after whisking Waterlooville out for 105 and winning by seven wickets at Rowlands Avenue.

Queenslander Chris Baumann (41) took Ville to 67-0, but the innings fell apart when Keith Jones (4-18) took three wickets in four balls.

Neil Dodds (6-21) cleaned up and left former Northwood left-hander Neil Westhorpe (43 not out) and Merrill Capenerhurst (34) to complete the formalities.

Smiles too for Bashley, particularly former 1st XI captain Graham Pardey, who has taken over the second team captain's role from Steve Latimore.

Pardey had an immediate impact too, using all his experience to make 63 and ease Bashley from a slightly uncertain 95-4 (Ian Britton 49) to 204-6.

Chris Gates (32 not out) proved a most reliable partner as Bashley made sure of a total which was to proved just beyond Flamingo's reach at 199 all out.