Hampshire League County Division 1.

Compton & CF (214ao) beat Locks Heath (180) County Division 2 champions Compton & Chandler's Ford won a see-saw encounter at Locks Heath, and while it was a far from exemplary performance, Compton's ability to remain in the game and force a result against the odds was the sign of a team that has become used to winning over the past season.

Chasing 215 to win, the home side appeared to be cruising to victory, needing just over 50 runs to win at less than a run a ball and with six wickets in hand. Then Ford had a huge stroke of luck, when a Locks Heath batsman drove the ball hard and straight and bowler Richard Wilson deflected the ball on to the stumps to run out the non-striker - the opposition's best batsman on the day.

Ford made the most of their luck and wrapped up the remaining Locks Heath batsmen with the minimum of fuss to secure a 34 run victory.

An excellent spell of left arm pace and swing bowling from Adam Brown (3-40) and the nagging off-spin of veteran Martin Dearlove (1-37) had earlier put Ford on top with the hosts struggling on 79 for 4. After the run out, Wilson claimed three victims, all bowled, and Patrick Pritchard finished the game with two wickets.

Ford's innings was also a stop-start affair. Damien French (42) and Lee Wateridge (32) laid solid foundations with an opening stand against challenging swing bowling, and consistent skipper Stewart Magee added 36 from number three to put Ford in a strong position. Of the middle-order only Matt Palmer, with a fluent 36, delivered, and Ford found themselves struggling on 150 for 6 and needed the tail to wag to boost the total to a defendable 214.

CCF 2nds brushed aside a weakened Wilton side to make it four wins from four so far this season, with no side scoring more than 130 against their well oiled bowling unit.

CCF opted to bat first on a slow Shepherds Lane deck. After losing both openers, Rob Selwyn notched up his first runs of the season in some style, racking up a classy 60 well supported by a watchful Lawrie Scott (28).

Jason Lawson (10) also helped move the score along as CCF closed on 176, which was probably worth a good 40 more considering the length of the outfield grass.

Following the break, Steve Bendall was eager to make up for lost overs from last week and he had the Wilton captain caught and bowled in his first over and as he departed so did any chance Wilton had of getting close to the 177 required to win.

Bendall (5-11) was in menacing form, ripping through the top order, with Harry Pone (1-10) economical as ever from the Clubhouse End. Alex Spearing (1-13), Paul Roberts (2-14) and Rob Selwyn (1-3) mopped up the tail as CCF recorded a 115-run win and maintained their title charge with a welcome 23 points.

CCF are well placed following the announcement that six teams are to be promoted from NW2.