HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE – REGIONAL DIVISION 1

HEAVY early morning rain forced relegation-likely Hyde to call off their match with division leaders Hythe and Dibden 2nds.

But, with only East Christchurch below them, they are virtually certain to go down.

It would take a maximum points’ victory when they visit Winton 2nds on Saturday, coupled with defeats for both Cadnam 2nds and Mudeford 2nds, to rescue the north Forest club and enable them to make an 11th hour escape from the danger zone.

Thanks to a century from their skipper Shaun Marlow, Breamore maintained their third place with a seven-wicket victory over New Milton thirds at the Fernhill Sports Ground.

Opener Will Crossley took advantage of Breamore’s lack of regular bowlers as he hit an unbeaten 129 in New Milton’s 224-3.

Once again, the Marlow brothers gave Breamore an excellent start this time surpassing their previous big stands this season with an opening partnership of 193 off 32 overs.

Once Steve Marlow was out for 79, his brother Shaun, pictured, continued to dominate the home side’s attack and Breamore won in the 36th over with Marlow hitting 18 fours in his unbeaten 104.

With five of their regular top-order batsmen unavailable coupled with a shortage of bowlers, it was always going to be difficult for ten-man Damerham to make an impact when they entertained Lyndhurst and Ashurst.

Despite their inadequacies, they still managed to make the visitors work hard for their four-wicket victory with their captain Henry Gilbert putting in a fine all-round performance. At 50-5 it looked as though Damerham might not make three figures but then Gilbert (61) and Steve Osborne (25) added 56 for the sixth wicket before Matt Park (4-38) took a hat-trick and the innings closed on 108 in the 42nd over. Lyndhurst were indebted to Simon Mays (39) for their victory in the 32nd over after Gilbert (4-37) and Osborne (10-1-16-1) had caused problems.