In the first SPL game of the season Lymington finally got its win against Bashley for the first time since August 2018, including some heavy defeats in the meantime, in an absorbing contest against Bashley. It was a great advert for the league on a lovely day even though both sides were short of match practice that contributed to batsmen having got themselves in then got out caught due to poor shot selection. As Bashley captain Michael Porter admitted the game was lost in the first ten overs of each innings and not helped by giving away 37 runs in wides compared to 11 conceded by Lymington and ultimately contributed to the 22-run defeat.

On an easy paced but good wicket that was a credit to the Bashley groundsmen despite the difficult spring preparations Bashley won the toss and put Lymington into bat. With left hander Terry Crabb (18) returning to the 1st XI fold, Lymington were 55-1 after ten overs and going along nicely with Monam Abbas (33) striking the ball well fresh back from playing cricket in Pakistan and previous to that Melbourne. After Robbie Hemmings (15) was out caught, Jovan Dhariwal (26) and Ryan Scott (14) put on 43 for the fourth wicket. But it was then let to captain Gareth Berg (50) to ensure that Lymington had a competitive total although maybe still around 25 runs short. It was the Bashley spinners who dominated with Ethan Baker (3-53), back after playing for the Hampshire Academy, and Jacob Gordon (3-33) while medium pacer George Wilson (3-24) was largely responsible for polishing off the tail.

Overseas Australian) player Eddie Withington (Witho) had a dream start for Lymington as he took just six balls to take his first league wicket bowling Will Tripcony in the first over of the Bashley innings. After ten overs Bashley were just 33-2 and finding it difficult to get the Lymington bowlers away helped by tight fielding. Michael Porter (73) played a captain’s innings batting at number five but with only limited contributions from the other top order batsmen with Jack Stearman and Jacob Gordon, the Premier Division leading batsman in 2024, both scoring 20 and then Dan Goodey (21). Terry Crabb weighed in with three sharp catches. At one stage the game could well have swung in favour of Bashley when Jovan Dhariwal dropped Porter on the boundary but when he held on to a similar chance much later Lymington were effectively home with the last five wickets falling for just 30 runs. Withington had a dream debut taking 3-35 in his 10 overs while Alvin Cameron who also generated some pace finished with 2-32. Monam Abbas was also in good form with his spin (2-44) including the crucial wicket of Porter.

This coming Saturday Lymington play their first home league game at the Sports Ground against Bournemouth. This again is a limited (50) overs games with a 12.30 start.

Team photo courtesey of Stephen Nicholls. New player Eddie Withington is second left in bottom row.