Despite a narrow defeat to Liphook & Ripsley OT's sealed promotion to the Southern Premier League 1st division in their penultimate match in a rain-interrupted season.

Having won the toss it was no surprise that OT's were put into bat in stormy overcast conditions.

Overnight showers had left the outfield damp and the wicket had sweated under the covers meaning the ball seamed and swung for the Liphook bowlers.

None of the OT's batsmen could get to grips with the conditions and skipper Charlie King was the top scorer with 14 in a total of 93 all out. The total was boosted by 25 extras including 20 wides.

Young off spinner George Zawoda was the pick of the bowlers with 5 wickets for 21 including the prize scalp of Hampshire's Chris Wood (available to play after the conclusion of The Hundred competition) for just a single to his name.

George Neave also bagged 3 wickets for 23 runs.

Chris Wood opened the bowling with left arm off spin and with 21 on the board Joe Vaughan took a smart catch off his bowling to dismiss Rob Nicklin for a 15-ball duck.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and Liphook slipped to 60 for 6 as Chris Wood took his third wicket, fellow spinner Matt Bampton had picked up two of the wickets.

With Chris Wood and Matt Bampton having bowled out the seventh wicket pair of George Neave and George Zawoda put together a crucial 33 run partnership to bring the scores level. George Zawoda was dismissed by Harry Tulk but George Neave completed the formalities to get Liphook over the line for a crucial 3 wicket win in their own battle against relegation.

OT's complete their season with an away game at Sparsholt knowing that promotion has already been gained.