Strong with the ball

Skipper Al Lewis lost the toss, and Liphook were invited to bat on an overcast day and on a cricket ground which looked to have absorbed the torrential rain that had fallen over the previous 36 hours pretty well. Runs were hard to come by and after 15 overs, Liphook were stuttering at 32/2. Although not scoring runs, the Liphook batsmen showed some really character in sticking at the crease to provide support to run machine Rich Jarratt as he notched up 89 not out in a brilliant innings of watchful, selective and powerful batting. Ably supported at the end by Richard Grimes who struck 19 not out, Liphook managed to get to a total of 156/6 that had seemed very unlikely at the halfway point. Spinner David Evans took 4 wickets for 36, but it was Joseph Reed (0/18 from 9 overs); James Money (1/29 from 9 overs) and Duncan White (1/9 from 4 overs) that had done so well to keep Liphook quiet in the first half of the game.

When Liphook took the field, Bramley opener James Browne (9) was brilliantly caught in the covers one handed by Rich Jarratt as the ball flew over his head when he was beginning to look dangerous and this set the tone for the Bramley innings. David Martin was looking to take the game to Liphook until an athletic catch by wicket-keeper Lewis, flying to his right removed him for 8. David Evans (15) and Andrew Martin (16) kept the Bramley score heading in the right direction, but Liphook's spinner John Strong removed both as he notched another 5 wicket haul, his second in the last three games. Liphook's fielders gave their bowlers tremendous support. Jarratt's splendid catch from Richard Grimes (1/22 from 9 overs) and Frank Tickle's superb catch to remove Duncan White for 4 were surpassed by the fabulous catch taken off the bowling of Des Valentine by William Longlands to remove Bramley top scorer Edward Turner for 43. With three overs remaining, Liphook sensed that victory may be within their grasp, but James Money and William Reed kept the nine close fielders at bay in order to see out the overs and ensure they didn't lose the game. Bramley finished on 123/8 in reply. A second winning draw for Liphook keeps them challenging at the top end of the table, but they will be grateful for the batting prowess of Jarratt who has now scored 330 runs in 7 league games this season at an average of 66.