NOT knowing that promotion rivals Purbrook had scored a mammoth 381 against Burridge II, Ropley again showed the gritty determination that has moved them steadily up the Hampshire League County One table since their last defeat on June 11.

Not for the first time this season, they won a game from a losing position, beating OTs & Romsey II by three wickets.

OTs skipper Shane Vidler won the toss and threw caution to the (very blustery) wind as he smashed a quickfire 52.

Number 3 Ian Woodall constructed an elegant 68, but Seb Newens and Tom Stennett took three wickets apiece and the home side were bowled out for 249 in the final over after some stubborn batting from a youthful tail.

At 155-6 in response, with Tim Niemand out for 69, Ropley looked down and out on what was now a truly miserable afternoon in Romsey. A raucous crowd were only being slightly drowned out by the wind.

But Ropley’s late order repeated their heroics in an earlier match against US Portsmouth. It was that same tail that was to carry Ropley home in the 49th over with three wickets in hand. Ed Stennett, coming in at number 8, scored a quite brilliant, counter-attacking 59 not out.

Unfortunately for the green caps, Purbrook won by 313 runs and have all but secured the second promotion spot. However, Ropley have other targets. South African Tim Niemand requires 109 runs to reach 1000 for the season, while wicketkeeper Alex Spencer needs only a handful more laps of the Vicarage Lane ground to complete 1000 miles run during the cricket season.

Spencer leaves for the longest foot race in the world on September 3, two days before Niemand flies home.

A win against Andover in the last game would cap a great season for Ropley, even if it does end agonisingly short of promotion.

Spencer is raising money for Alzheimer’s Society. (www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ultravultures)