LIPHOOK & Ripsley rose to fourth in the Division?One table after recording a third straight win in the Southern Electric Cricket League.

But they were made to fight by lowly Hartley Wintney who ran up a big total and were only denied victory by a last-wicket stand of 15.

A 200-plus total hardly seemed likely as Suman Ganguly opened Liphook’s attack with a devastating spell of quick and late inswingers, attacking the stumps and dismissing three batsmen, two of them leg before, to finish with 3-23 in his 10 overs.

Charles Janczur had Jack Hersh caught for 22 as Hartley Wintney slumped to 31-4.

But the home side countered strongly with an excellent partnership of 92 between skipper Scott Baldwin and Dan Wrenn.

Both then fell to the spin of Elliott Hawkins, but Tommy Flanders and Mark Teale picked out the short boundaries in a lively ninth-wicket stand of 51 and a final flourish by number 11 Seb Waddington raised the total to a formidable 251-9.

Liphook got off to a decent start, easing to 49-2, and the challenge really got under way when opener Chris Martin and Ganguly came together in a partnership of 91.

Ganguly struck the ball with ease to all parts of the ground and his 80 off 64 balls, including 13 fours and a six, set his side up for victory.

Liphook still had work to do at 164-4, but Harry Munt and Jonny Pryce added a further 32.

The Hartley bowlers kept chipping away, however, and when Munt, who had ridden his luck while hitting two sixes and four fours, was caught for 42, Liphook still required 12 to win with their last pair at the crease.

Sean Burton and Hawkins were equal to the task and in a tense finish, Hawkins hitting the only ball he faced for the winning boundary with an over to spare.

Liphook host second-placed Hook & Newnham Basics on Saturday.