ROWLEDGE and Liphook & Ripsley both made it through to the last 16 of the National Village Cup on Sunday. Liphook strolled past Cookham Dean at Ripsley Park, while Rowledge dug deep into their reserves to win by three runs at Findon in West Sussex.

Rowledge were staring elimination in the face after collapsing to 63-7. But Ben Wish, having made the decision to bat first, shouldered the responsibility. He and Steve Martin staged a partnership that was at first intended to spare the visitors embarrassment but eventually yielded 65 precious runs and gave Rowledge a fighting chance.

Wish finally departed for 24 and Martin, after adding a further 34 with Chris Yates Snr, was last man out for 42 off 75 balls.

Findon made steady progress in reply, but without ever really taking control. Runs were hard to come by against some beguiling bowling from spin triplets Yates Snr, David Lloyd and Ollie Baker, ably backed up by seamers Jake Wish and Will Ryman.

The home team’s chances rested with number 4 Glenn Bridson. With seven overs of this tense affair to go, Findon, six wickets down, needed 45 and both sets of supporters believed they would prevail.

The ‘death’ overs were left to young left-arm seamer Jake Wish and veteran swing bowler Martin, still feeling the effects of his rearguard innings.

They bowled tightly in tandem, but without taking wickets. With Bridson and Matt Wratting well set, Findon needed 13 from the last two overs. Surely they would do it.

But Wish yielded just four runs in the 39th over and Findon required nine from Martin’s final over.

Five accurate deliveries left a boundary wanted from the last ball. Martin hit the block-hole and a scampered single left Findon three runs short, with Bridson 54 not out.

A euphoric Rowledge go through to face East Sussex side Mayfield, at home, on July 8.

Liphook made it seven consecutive wins in all cricket as they powered past Cookham Dean, the Thames Valley League Division One leaders, to reach the last 16 of the Village Cup.

Electing to bat, the Berkshire team were blown away by Suman Ganguly who shattered the stumps of skipper Ben Millar in his second over and went on to take 4-20.

George Neave had Kurran Mangat, the other opener, caught behind and the rampant Ganguly then reduced Cookham to 20-4.

Greg Davies rescued his side with a free-hitting 65, but Ryan Covey and Sean Burton cleaned up the rest and Cookham Dean were bowled out for a modest 109 in the 30th over.

Liphook eased their way to their target, led by in-form Ryan Covey (23) and Harry Munt (37 not out). Munt hit four fours and two sixes as Liphook motored to 110-3 in 20 overs. Liphook will host Oxford Downs on July 8, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.