Hampshire Academy v Liphook and Ripsley

Persistent drizzle, followed by heavy rain foiled the Academy's attempts to rise into fourth position by beating lowly Liphook; themselves thwarted as they attempted to put more daylight over Calmore at the bottom of the table.

The Academy lost an important toss and were inserted on a pitch that had understandably "greened up" having sweated overnight under the covers when play got under way at midday, half an hour late. Although losing both openers Hammond and Richardson early on to boundary catches off top-edged hooks, the Academy, thanks to Tom Burrows (36 in 73 balls, 5 fours), Kevin Latouf (33 in 69 balls, 7 fours) and Ian Hilsum (31 not out in 56 balls, 3 fours), made steady, if slow progress against an accurate attack supported by excellent ground fielding and catching.

However, the rain had the final say as the second weather interruption proved to be the last despite the best intentions of both umpires and captains. The young Hawks therefore remain narrowly fifth in a tight battle for second in a Southern League table dominated by BAT.