Hampshire League County Division 3.

Ropley (103 all out) lost to Midhurst (118 all out).

Midhurst inflicted Ropley's first defeat of the season with a narrow 15-run victory in a low scoring encounter on Saturday.

Midhurst were invited to bat first after losing the toss and were soon looking shaky at 11 for 2 with both Bobby Wood and Martin Peters picking up an early wicket each.

Peyman came in at number four and immediately made the game look much easier, stroking the ball around effortlessly, he took 26 off two Mark Munday overs, to see Midhurst to the comfort of 84 for 3 after 20 overs.

Peters was re-introduced to the attack, a move which paid immediate dividends when he bowled Peyman off an inside edge for 47 off just 44 balls and this was quickly followed by another two wickets, one each for Munday and Peters to see the score slump to 90 for 6.

Simon Lush then hung around for a while adding a watchful 22 with the tail, but the innings subsided from 116 for 7 to 118 all out with wickets for Raso, Sutton and Munday. Wood finished with 3 for 12 off 8 overs and Peters 4 for 20 off 9.

The chase was never going to be a formality and the Midhurst bowlers began with purpose as Powell removed Currall early on, Graham fell soon after and the free-scoring Tom Wood was also sent back to leave Ropley reeling at 28 for 3, with all the bowlers gaining considerable swing and movement off the pitch.

Kearney was particularly impressive, moving the ball both ways and varying his pace well, as all the batsmen seemed to fall into a negative mind-set chasing the low target.

Raso (24) and Stroud (11) led a mini-recovery to 56 for 3, but the wickets kept falling at regular intervals and the bad balls were not being put away. Goodale 3-17, Powell 2-14 and Kearney 3-19 took the bowling plaudits as, despite late resistance from Wood, Walker (12) and Munday, the innings faltered to 103 all out and a 15-run defeat.