HALES secured promotion from Alliance Division Three to Two in their first season with victory over second-placed visitors Hillington.Hales visit Wanderers this week knowing they only need seven points to secure their third successive championship, even if Hillington achieve a maximum 25-point haul.

HALES secured promotion from Alliance Division Three to Two in their first season with victory over second-placed visitors Hillington.

Hales visit Wanderers this week knowing they only need seven points to secure their third successive championship, even if Hillington achieve a maximum 25-point haul.

Hales skipper Steve Rowe won the toss against Hillington and elected to bowl first.

Despite the rain during the week there was some pace in the wicket and Rob Andersen and Graham Squire exploited this well, both beating the bat regularly and although they only took one wicket in the first 12 overs they kept the visitors to 16 runs.

Rowe and Matthew Lovick kept things tight with Hillington only reaching their first batting point at 100 in the 38th over. Rowe took 2-14 from 10 overs and Squire 2-41 from 12 as Hillington closed their innings on 134-6 with Fisher (49) and Freeman (46 not out) the main contributors.

Andersen and Lovick were also economical and despite Hales dropping three difficult catches and one fairly easy one the support the bowlers got in the field was excellent as Hales gave a superb display of ground fielding. Chris Andersen was again excellent behind the stumps, claiming two catches and conceding no byes.

Martin Cornish (13) and Chris Andersen (12) were made to work in a similar fashion by the Hillington opening attack, although Cornish managed to cut loose with two huge sixes in the third over.

When they departed Dave Harmer (19) anchored the innings as Phil Sqire (4) and Mark Ramsdale (11) departed. He was joined by Dan Andersen (44), who picked up the tempo.

The departure of Harmer and Lovick (0), who could not repeat his heroics of the return fixture earlier in the season, did not faze Andersen at all. He was joined by Jon Vale (24no) in a decisive partnership of 44 to take Hales within 10 runs of victory before Andersen was bowled by Matthews (4-33).

Rob Andersen was one not out as Vale kept his cool to hit the winning runs to give Hales victory by three wickets with 4.3 overs to spare. Chedgrave White Horse MoM: Dan Andersen.