Hythe & Dibden are Hampshire League County Division 1 champions – but only by a solitary point from Parley.

They only needed three points from their last match against St Cross Symondians III to secure their first title in 42 years – and almost blew it.

Quickly reduced to 19-4 at the Green Jackets Ground, they recovered to post 128 (Richie Froggett 37), collecting two batting points in the process.

But it wasn’t until St Cross fell to 24-4 themselves that Hythe secured the points they needed to win the league.

That was as good as it got for the Watersiders as Brad Aldridge hit 54 not out and Graham Barrett a sturdy 36 to guide St Cross to a six-wicket victory over the new CD1 champions.

Alex Nippard (112) scored his second century of the season as Parley, the eventual runners-up, chalked up 260-7 against Ryde at Hardings Shute.

His 758-run tally for the season makes him favourite to win the County 1 batting prize.

Parley went on to bowl Ryde out for 203 and secure a comfortable 57-run win.

Promotion to the Southern Premier League’s third division isn’t automatic for either Hythe & Dibden or Parley, whose respective grounds and youth set ups have to meet the SPL’s accreditation requirements.

The pair both face an anxious autumn wait as a decision is unlikely to be made until November.

Hursley Park bungled their chances of finishing third when lowly Alton II beat them by 12 runs at the Jubilee Ground.

Fareham & Crofton nipped into their place by beating relegated Rowledge (188-9) by seven wickets – Steve Berryman (74) and Tom Kent (44) sharing a century stand.

Andover’s four-wicket win at the Albany means that Bishops Waltham are relegated alongside Rowledge and United Services.

Runaway winners Bedhampton, Sway and Old Basing will replace them.

County Division 3 winners are Redlynch & Hale and in CD3 South Winton, who beat Emsworth (136) by six wickets in the final day shoot-out for the crown.