ROWLEDGE took another step towards promotion straight back to the Southern Premier League Division?One, winning a thrilling contest against Langley Manor by just three runs.

Jake Wish, still standing in for brother Ben, chose to bat first at the Rec and was one of three early victims for Luke Mooney as Rowledge slumped to 22-3 after nine overs on a wicket that gave plenty of assistance to the seamers.

But the home side dug in and rebuilt, with Joe Randall batting positively and racing to 34 before being adjudged lbw to Tom Spencer.

Meanwhile, opener Chris Yates Jnr was still there and showing all his experience as he kept the scoreboard ticking over.

It seemed a costly dismissal when Yates was run out for a patient 48, just as he was looking to accelerate. But the tail wagged and some lusty blows from Joel Swan, George Keeley and Richard Forbes lifted the score to 184. Langley Manor gifted their opponents 41 extras, including 29 wides, and Rowledge must have been confident of defending their total on a deteriorating pitch.

Rowledge came out full of energy. Forbes and Wish both took wickets during tidy opening spells and when a fired-up Ollie Baker bowled Azeem Hamid with his first ball, Langley Manor were 39-3 after 16 overs.

The spinners continued to build pressure, bowling with rhythm and skill on a turning wicket. However, number 4 Elliot Ponting had got in and as long as the youngster was at the crease, the game remained in the balance.

Ponting was pacing his innings to perfection and the visitors appeared to have the edge in an exciting run-chase. A good penultimate over left them needing only eight runs off the last six balls.

Wish entrusted the over to left-arm spinner Keeley and the game was ultimately decided by Baker’s fantastic pick-up and throw that left Mooney run out and, crucially, Ponting at the non-striker’s end.

Keeley closed out the game, conceding only four runs in the over, and Langley came up three runs short. Ponting finished unbeaten on 75. It was so close to being a match-winning innings

With three games to play, Rowledge are well adrift of leaders Sparsholt, but have a decent advantage over third-placed St Cross II. This Saturday, Rowledge travel to Totton & Eling who are in a fight to avoid relegation.