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Portsmouth odds on favourites for promotion as Cove and Lymington slip Mike Vimpany - 12 August 2001
Defeats for Cove and Lymington have established Portsmouth as firm favourites to win the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 championship. Overnight leaders Cove were shot out for 72 and beaten by five wickets by Trojans at Stoneham Lane, while Lymington plunged to 81 all out and a promotion-ending fourth successive defeat against Old Tauntonians & Romsey. The results swept Portsmouth - easy ten-wicket winners over Sparsholt - into a commanding top place with three matches to go. Jamie Donaldson (3-27) and Pat Douglas (4-7 in 11 overs) routed Cove for a dismal 72 on a typical Stoneham wet top. But the Thames Valley League bound visitors took five wickets before Nigel le Bas (24) guided Trojans to the brink of victory. Left-hander Neil Stotart (59) and Charles Forward (42) provided the platform from which Max Smith's undefeated 71 swept Old Tauntonians & Romsey to a powerful 246-8 (Glyn Treagus 3-37). Lymington, rocked by an initial burst by Mukesh Morjaria (4-31), sank to 81 all out, with clean shaven Geoff Stotart taking 4-22. New leaders Portsmouth made short work of Sparsholt, who were shot out for 108 (Bill Gunyon 33). Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul took 3-19 before cracking a quick-fire 79 not out. Steve Green produced a stunning all-round performance, hitting 77 before returning figures of 6-30 in Easton & Martyr Worthy's 58-run win over Hambledon. Easton rattled up 226-5 (Ian Butcher 41, Andy Birch 31) before Green's left-arm spin reduced Hambledon from 53-0 to 168 all out (Mark le Clerq 38). Relegated Old Basing were skittled for 61 and beaten by nine wickets by United Services. © Mike Vimpany / SEPL / Daily Echo
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