BOURNEMOUTH’S faint hopes of avoiding relegation were extinguished following an eight-run defeat by Premier Division rivals Bashley on Saturday.

The Lions, who had needed a minor miracle in their attempts to stay up, now look set to fall through the trapdoor and be replaced by Division One winners Burridge.

Although Bournemouth were granted a stay after finishing bottom last season as Sarisbury did not meet the ground-grading requirements, Burridge are understood to be equipped for promotion.

Neil Thurgood (71) and Richard Morris (52) underpinned Bashley’s 251 for nine with ex-Lions star Simon Ridley (28), Nick Baker (26) and Andy Neal (24) also chipping in (Jake Hurley 4-43, Dom Hand 2-33).

An opening stand of 90 between Ryan Scott (53) and Hand (42) gave Bournemouth hope but they eventually came up short on 243 with Ridley (3-49), Ross Grierson (3-61) and Kevin Nash (2-30) among the wickets.

Meanwhile, Lymington’s bid to land the 50-over pennant bit the dust when they lost their winner-takes-all showdown against Havant by 30 runs.

Matt Metcalfe (2-19) and Glyn Treagus (2-43) helped restrict Havant to 217 for nine, a target Lymington failed to pass despite the best efforts of skipper Ali Jaffer (70) and Cameron Grierson (52).

New Milton finished a respectable third in Division One after registering a seven-wicket win over fellow high-fliers Liphook & Ripsley.

Ryan Beck (2-8), Lee Beck (2-28) and Nick Gargaro (2-37) helped dismiss the hosts for 154 before brothers James Park (60) and Nick Park (59) shared 136 for the third wicket to see them within sight of the line.