SPCL2 Week5 - Top two go marching on unbeaten

Unbeaten pair Lymington and Old Tauntonians & Romsey are battling it out for supremacy at the top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2.

The duo both extended their winning starts against newly promoted opponents - Lymington beating Gosport Borough by 64 runs and OT's trimming last season's Division 3 champions, Purbrook by a 46-run margin.

Lymington simply out-batted Gosport on a Sports Ground shirtfront - all of the top order getting amongst the runs as the New Forest side posted a formidable 271-7 to plunge Gosport to a third successive defeat.

Martin Hunt (42) was prominent in early partnerships with Glyn Treagus (29) and Dan Peacock (34), but it was Ben Craft's 69, aided by an unbeaten 37 from Tom Peacock, which powered Lymington into a near invincible position.

Gosport dipped to 65-5 (Andrew Watkins 31) before Pete Robson (61) gave their eventual 207 an air of respectability.

A second second-wicket stand between Max Smith (86) and Raj Niak(54) powered OTR into the driving seat at Purbrook, where last year's Division 3 champs were left chasing 262-7 (Jeremy Ord 38).

Will Prozesky (78) launched Purbrook's reply in style, but with Nick Wood taking 5-60, the ask was too great and they closed at 216 all out.

Hampshire's John Francis spanked 113 not out and shared a near double-century stand with Steve Shaw (106) as St Cross Symondians piled up a massive 285-2 at Hursley Park.

Paul Edwards (65) and Sandeep Halder (35) gave Hursley token hope, but it was all too much as the Park slipped to 213 all out.

Dave Birch continued his rich vein of form with an unbeaten 88 as Easton & Martyr Worthy cruised past Sparsholt's 195-5 to win by nine wickets.

Tim Richings (43), Nick Boxall (41) and Ollie Kelly (39) top scored for Sparsholt, but once Birch and Ashley Spencer (40) had established an 82-run start the writing was on the wall for the visitors.

Birch and Shaun Green added an unbroken 114 for the second wicket.

Neil Cunningham's 68 got Burridge home by three wickets after United Services had posted 183-8 (Gary Hounsome 50) at Burnaby Road.

Burridge wobbled at 143-6, but Phil Ransley's 22 not out got them home.