Teenager Neil Shelar took responsibility after Basingstoke & North Hants got themselves in a pickle chasing a modest Rowledge total of 149 at School Road, writes Mike Vimpany.
He made an important 36 to point Basingstoke towards an eventual two-wicket win - the result enabling the town side to maintain a 22-point lead over Andover at the top of Southern Premier Division 1.
Max Martin (54) top-scored for Rowledge, while Alex Crawford and Ash Neal each took two wickets.
Basingstoke soon ran into trouble, losing openers Matt Deadman and Dubs Wood cheaply before Callum CoombAs was run out at 33-3.
Ash Neal (25) eased Stoke's concerns, but when elder brother Brad departed half the Basingstoke side was dismissed with only 79 runs on the board.
Joe Oates (35) added precious runs, but when he fell at 116-7 Rowledge were right back in the game, even though it was always a struggle for them to defend a modest total.
David Lloyd (2-26) bowled a telling ten-over spell, leaving young Shelar (36) to play the decisive innings. He was eventually out at 143-8, Basingstoke within touching distance of victory.

The lead pair, Basingstoke and Andover, meet in a potential title decider at London Road on Saturday, August 12.

In the other match, Andover continued their push up the division one table by beating bottom-placed New Milton.

Batting first, Andover scored 183 on a difficult pitch, thanks to Joshua Banks-Williams's 41 and Babu Veettil's 46.

In return, New Milton were bundled for 126 as captain Johnny Nyumbu picked up four wickets for 29.

Division 1 table after July 29 games (in the order of played, won, lost, tied, points, average)

Basingstoke 11-10-1-0-220-20.00

Andover 11-9-2-0-198-18.00

Calmore Sports 10-7-3-0-164-16.40

Portsmouth 10-6-4-0-153-15.30

Hook and Newnham Basics 11-5-6-0-141-12.82

Sarisbury Athletic 11-5-6-0-136-12.36

Ventnor 11-5-6-0-136-12.36

Rowledge 11-5-6-0-134-12.18

Hambledon 11-1-10-0-91-8.27

New Milton 11-1-10-0-56-5.09