LIPHOOK & Ripsley, having secured their place in the Village Cup final at Lord’s next month, got back to the business of trying to escape relegation from the Southern Premier League Division?One.

They remain second from bottom, but will take heart from a deserved victory over Calmore Sports in a rain-affected game at Loperwood Park.

Suman Ganguly, who has been unavailable for most of the league fixtures, was back to strengthen the batting and once again showed his great value to the side with a blistering century.

Put in to bat, the visitors made a decent start with an opening partnership of 47, but then Ryan Covey and an injury-hampered Gabe Broadhurst fell to Paul Proudley in quick succession.

Calmore found the next breakthrough a long time in coming, though, as Harry Munt and Ganguly shared a superb partnership of 216.

Munt, particularly impressive with his on-driving, hit 12 fours and a six in a 98-ball 87, while Ganguly’s 111 in 91 balls contained 16 fours and two sixes.

Calmore were set a distant target of 290, but showers set in and threatened to rob the visitors of invaluable winning points.

Eventually, Calmore’s revised target was 194 in just 26 overs. Left-handed opener Ben Johns hit a fluent 48 and skipper Mark Lavelle raced to 31 not out, but opening bowlers Ganguly and Charles Janczur made sure the run-rate never got out of hand.

The task was always beyond the home side and they finished on 139-4, Liphook winning by 55 runs.

• Liphook will be aiming for back-to-back wins when they travel to bottom side Hartley Wintney this Saturday.

• Folton & Flixton, Liphook’s opponents in the Village Cup final on September 16, currently lie fifth in the Yorkshire Premier League North.