A STUNNING two-wicket win over defending ECB Southern Premier League champions and current leaders South Wilts has lifted Bournemouth off the bottom of the table.

They chased down South Wilts’ modest 210 with a half-century by Jake Hurley key to a victory that has eased Bournemouth 14 points clear of Hook & Newnham Basics, who now occupy bottom place.

It was the last ‘time pennant’ match of a sun scorched summer, which is set for its finale with a series of five 50-over ‘white ball’ which, for Bournemouth, begins against Totton & Eling at Chapel Gate on Saturday, 12.30pm.

Their mid-August meeting with second-to-bottom Burridge on August 20 could be crucial.

Oli Breckon (3-32) marked his Lions return with a critical new-ball spell, which accounted for Jack Mynott, Tom Morton (24) and Peter Rowe.

With Simon Woodruff (3-36) removing Ben Draper for a duck, South Wilts were rocking at 59-4 and, after lunch, 131-7 with the left-arm seamer taking two more wickets.

Indian spin all-rounder Aaryan Sen (46) and Tom Grant were beginning the repair the damage when a superb piece of fielding by Tom Willoughby ran out the Mumbai youngster.

Grant remained to hit 51 and added a vital 40 for the last wicket with Matt Burton to set Bournemouth an intriguing 56-over run chase.

Tasmanian Tom Willoughby (38) underpinned a confident Bournemouth response, enjoying a 51-run start with Luke Webb (29) before both Woodruff (22) and Lewis Freak (28) produced cameo knocks.

Mynott’s spell of 5-47 kept South Wilts in the hunt and when Rob Pack went at 167-6, the outcome was in the balance.

Just as he had done against Bashley (Rydal) the previous week, Hurley stepped up to the plate and won the match, sharing a key seventh-wicket stand of 36 with Chris Park (which took Bournemouth to 203) before completing his half-century, which included sixes off Sen and Barton.

Mynott nabbed a fourth and fifth wicket, including that of Hurley, but by then Bournemouth were almost home and dry.

“Jake is a man reborn with the bat,” smiled skipper Park.

“The last two games he’s been unbelievable, his clean hitting is of the highest order.

“Team confidence is back where it should be with three good results recently.

“Beating Totton & Eling this weekend is going to be key.”