LIPHOOK & Ripsley lost virtually on the toss of a coin on Saturday.

The head of the Southern Premier League umpires’ panel had warned Charles Janczur about the state of the Romsey Sports Centre pitch on Friday evening, saying the Division One match against OTs & Romsey might not go ahead.

But go ahead it did. The Liphook captain called wrong and his side were duly inserted on a shocker – rolled mud rather than a batting strip.

The pitch had nothing to do with Rob Nicklin being run out without facing a ball, though. Harry Munt, in prime form this season, soon followed, caught off Dan Mogg, and Liphook were 3-2.

They never recovered. Some batsmen fell to the vagaries of the pitch, others gave their wickets away, with only Ryan Covey offering prolonged resistance until, at 48-6, he was joined by Sean Burton in a defiant partnership of 45.

Covey was finally ninth man out, caught for 39 off Peter Newman (3-13), having batted for 123 minutes and faced 126 balls.

Liphook were all out for 109 after 44 overs and, remarkably, young Harry Tulk bagged five catches in the ring, one to dismiss Covey. Jody Brown finished with 3-8 in eight overs.

Old Tauntonians found it equally hard going against Covey and Munt (2-15 in 10 overs) and were forced to grind out the runs. Burton turned the screw with 10 overs for a begrudged five runs and, at 67-5, the game was still in the balance.

But skipper Brown knuckled down to the task and his undefeated 20 off 70 balls saw the relieved home side to a three-wicket victory in the 47th over.

Liphook are home to third-placed Calmore Sports this Saturday. The following day, Liphook host Easton & Martyr Worthy in the Hampshire Regional final of the National Village Cup.