LIPHOOK & Ripsley began their Southern Premier League Division ?One campaign with a 543-run thriller at Ripsley Park. It ended happily for the home side, with Portsmouth coming up 11 runs short.

Perhaps a bowler short, Portsmouth inserted Liphook who obliged with an authoritative opening stand of 75 between Rob Nicklin and the returning Ryan Covey. Covey and newcomer Mainak Ray added a further 69 and Suman Ganguly built on the good start with 44 off 33 balls.

Slow left-armer Andy Marston bowled Portsmouth back into contention, but Harry Munt and Dave Oliver put on an undefeated 55 for the seventh wicket and assisted by a telling 43 extras (36 wides), Liphook posted 277-6.

Portsmouth also began well, paving the way for Jack Marston to hit a highly impressive 129 not out, including 10 fours and five sixes, assisted by Harry Collier and Jordan Palmer-Goddard in stands of 65 and 115.

Marston’s accelerating knock threatened to win the game, but skipper Charles Janczur bowled a vital spell, taking wickets at key times, and the issue was finally settled by some controlled ‘death’ bowling from the experienced Covey and Ganguly. Portsmouth were left with too much to do in the final overs and were held to 266-5 after an absorbing contest. Points: Liphook 21, Portsmouth 8.

Rowledge collapsed to Bournemouth’s left-arm spinners in their opening Division?One match at Chapel Gate.

Bournemouth, opting to bat, were stuttering at 21-2, but that brought the Park brothers, Nick, and Chris, together and their patient stand of 121 ensured a decent total.

Joe Randall finally broke through and this signalled an excellent Rowledge fightback as they ran out four batsmen, including Nick Park for 90. However, Jake Hurley held the tail together and the home side closed on 216-9.

Matt Jones and the hostile Chrystian Michalowski had Rowledge in early trouble, but new overseas player Tom Treble accumulated runs with ease and he and David Lloyd added 65 for the third wicket.

But from being 87-2, the visitors fell apart against the left-arm spin attack of Rob Pack (3-21) and Dominic Clutterbuck (5-17).

Australian Treble was bowled for 50 and Rowledge collapsed to 119 all out.