Clanfield’s first team fell to a three-wicket defeat at Emsworth’s second team in Division Five South East of the Hampshire Cricket League on Saturday.

The visitors were asked to bat first and made a relatively solid start before losing the first wicket with the score on 31.

The loss of Matt Bradley (26) and Tom Hughes (26) with the score on 70 was a blow, however some confident batting from James MacGregor and John Windebank saw the score accelerate before MacGregor (17) was runout in a mix-up with the score on 92.

The loss of Windebank (13) at 116 didn’t help with two more wickets falling with only two runs added before the tail offered some resistance, taking the score to 136 all out in the 33rd over.

Clanfield’s Khuthub Malikoo took a wicket with his first ball, but the opening bowlers made no further inroads.

The score had reached 48 before first-change bowler Ollie Sedgwick took the first of his three wickets. Sedgwick took an economical three for eight off his eight overs.

The home side continued to pounce on loose balls and the score had reached 105 for three before Hughes (two for 31) and Bradley (one for 19) claimed some quick wickets, leaving Emsworth struggling on 111 for 7 in the 30th over.

However, Emsworth captain Webb upped the ante and scored 25 not out off 26 balls to take the home side over the line in the 35th over.

Clanfield will host Portsmouth’s fourth team on Saturday.