LIPHOOK & Ripsley inflicted a resounding defeat on Oxford Downs to reach the quarter-finals of the Village Cup, but there was disappointment for Rowledge who slipped up against Mayfield from Sussex.

Around 150 spectators were at Ripsley Park on Sunday to see Liphook’s biggest game in recent years as they took on Oxfordshire champions Oxford Downs in the last 16.

Charles Janczur elected to bat first on another good wicket and typically aggressive batting by the middle-order pair of Suman Ganguly (87) and Grant Rouse (66) was key as Liphook posted a formidable 238 all out in their 40 overs.

Liphook lost Rob Nicklin and Harry Munt for just 15 runs before Ganguly shared partnerships of 99 and 51 with Ryan Covey and Rouse respectively.

After the departure of Ganguly, Rouse played a pivotal role and punished the Cherwell League Division One leaders with some fine hooking and well-judged quick singles.

Liphook made early inroads when Oxford Downs replied, with the in-form George Sandbach falling to George Neave. The game was then effectively settled by eight miserly overs apiece from Covey (1-19) and Sean Burton (0-16), who simply tied down the Oxfordshire champions.

Thereafter, spinners Harry Munt and Dave Elliott cashed in as the batsmen were forced to take chances, both claiming three wickets.

By the time Elliott had skipper and opener James Ellwood caught behind by Rouse for 43, the game was as good as over. Harry Sutton hit a defiant 35, including three sixes, before the visitors were dismissed for 167, Liphook winning by 71 runs.

Liphook, now just two wins from a Lord’s final, will travel to North Perrott on July 22. The Somerset side beat Marshfield (Wiltshire) by 21 runs in their sixth-round match.

At Rowledge, Mayfield chose to bat first on a dry track which looked like it might take spin and the hosts made the perfect start when Jake Wish had Harrison Tagg caught with his second ball.

Runs proved difficult to come by and the pattern was set for a low-scoring game. Mayfield lost wickets regularly as David Lloyd (2-10 in 8 overs) and Ollie Baker ( 4-20 in 8) settled into a groove, and but for a well-crafted 45 from skipper Robert Sharma, the visitors might have been dismissed for less than 100.

As it was, Mayfield laboured to 151 all out, with Steve Martin claiming the last two wickets in the 40th over.

It hardly seemed enough, but Rowledge never really got going against some aggressive bowling and were facing humiliation at 60-7.

A classy 29 from Sam Moseley and a gritty, mature innings of 28 not out by Max Martin gave Rowledge some hope, but it was not to be and they were bowled out for 130 in the 36th over, 21 runs behind. Joynal Ahmed did the early damage with 3-27, but Sharma was the outstanding bowler, recording figures of 4-15 in 7.3 overs. He was definitely the difference between the sides.