Liphook and Ripsley picked up their first win of the season in style as they put Hook and Newnham Basics’ second team to the sword at Ripsley Park with an emphatic 107-run victory in Division Two of the Southern Premier Cricket League.

Liphook skipper Sean Burton won the toss and elected to bat first on a scorching day.

Openers Ryan Covey and Kyle Nelson-Esch started positively, and with the help of some wayward bowling from the away side the score raced along to 50 without loss off only seven overs.

Nelson-Esch was dismissed for a superb 48 after a 118-run partnership for the first wicket. A couple of quick wickets followed to leave Liphook on 137 for three.

Some tighter bowling from the away side meant it got a little bit tougher for Liphook to score. James Dovey (four for 41) and Will Gee (one for 39) slowed the run rate and picked up key wickets along the way.

Harry Munt and Ryan Covey (66) fell in quick succession as Liphook slipped to 170 for six.

Enter Andy Barnes. Ripsley Park wasn’t big enough for the big-hitting middle-order batter as he bludgeoned 95 not out off just 48 deliveries.

Barnes cleared the ropes six times and hit eight fours.

With the help of some lower-order runs from George Worman, Liphook posted a formidable 302 for nine off their allotted 50 overs.

Hook’s reply started well as Tom May and Daniel Moore played aggressively.

Skipper Burton picked up the first two wickets when he dismissed Moore and Kevin Light in quick succession.

The introduction of overseas player Ash-Lee Harvey paid dividends as he had May (29) stumped with some lightning glove work from Richard Covey behind the stumps. Harvey claimed another wicket soon afterwards and Hook were struggling at 53 for four.

Charlie Neville and Thomas Dyer produced a useful partnership, with Neville playing particularly well for his 67.

Some lower-order runs from Joe Allnutt (20), Scott Dyer (15) and Gee (17) got the away side to a respectable 195 before they were bowled out.

The wickets were shared around the Liphook attack, with two each for Burton, Harvey and Barnes and one each for Ryan Covey and Munt.

Wicketkeeper Richard Covey claimed two stumpings, a catch and a run out.

The maximum-points win was much-needed for Liphook.

They will look for another victory when they travel to fellow strugglers Fair Oak today (Saturday).