Hambledon scraped into the semi finals of the inaugural Hampshire U17 Cup by the narrowest of margins against Totton & Eling tonight.
Rob Gibson followed up his mammoth 201 for Hampshire U16s by top-scoring with 65 as the young Dons reached 135-6 in their 20 overs at Ridge Meadow.
But he was immediately brought down to earth when he bowled as the tight leg-spin that had seen him take five wickets the day before went for 45 in just four overs as Totton & Eling mounted a gallant fightback.
With fellow Hampshire U17 bowler Cam Prentice going for 33 off his four overs, it was left to Will Mann (1-14) and Chris Stone (2-14) to put the brakes on.
After opening bat Beresford hit 54 and left-hander Holloway smashed three sixes in his quickfire 31, Totton needed eight to win off the last over.
Five off the first four balls left them needing three off two before Prentice took his second wicket of the over off the penultimate ball.
A scrambled bye off the last ball with nine wickets down wasn't enough - and Hambledon inched home by just one run.
Both the semi finals and final will be played on the same day at the Army Ground in Aldershot on Thursday August 19.