Lymington continued to dominate their position at the top of the Premier league having headed the table now for five weeks overcoming a weakened Bournemouth side. Jovan Dhariwal had a great day for the second week running with another all-round performance taking 3-30 with the ball before opening the batting scoring 73 not out. As the Lymington overseas player Eddie Withington said “Jovan Dhariwal was man of the match and spent the whole day on the field” and also saw the side home after a “rocky start to the Lymington innings”. The game was given added colour by the Red Arrows flying in and out of Bournemouth Airport as the Chapel Gate ground is at the end of the runway.

Bournemouth had four players heading to Chester to play for Dorset in the National Counties Trophy final while opening bowler Cole Rushworth was injured. Lymington won the toss and opted to field and soon the Bournemouth innings was in tatters as Bournemouth slumped to 14-3 due to Dhariwal and fellow opening bowler Gareth Berg (2-27) as the new ball swung. Bournemouth top scorer James van Gool (5) was soon back in the pavilion and quickly followed by Tom Robinson (6) and the second highest run scorer Ben Rogers (1). Namibian overseas player Shaun Fouche (41) did his best to move the innings forward until he was bowled by Asad Abbas (2-28) first ball. Bournemouth were 83-6 and all their top batsmen out. However, batting at seven Lewis Freak started a revival as the wicket got flatter with the last five wickets contributing 132 runs frustrating the Lymington fielders starting to feel the heat. This included a last wicket partnership of 63 in 19 overs by Dan Conway (42), until he was bowled by youngster Bertie Adkins (1-13), and Ollie Breckon (34 not out) that gave some respectability to the Bournemouth score.

In reply Lymington got off to a solid start as openers Jovan Dhariwal and Terry Crabb (22) put on 37 runs for the first wicket before Simon Woodruff (3-45) had Crabb caught with Robbie Hemmings out next ball. Monam Abbas (25) avoided the hat trick and soon got going until Woodruff bowled him and Bournemouth sensed they had a chance with Lymington on 73-3. However, Dhariwal had played himself in and was joined by Ryan Scott (57 including eight fours) with the pair putting on 112 runs for the fourth wicket before Scott was caught off the bowling of Tom Robinson (1-38). Dhariwal though guided the side home in another composed knock lasting 144 balls, including nine fours, as he and Gareth Berg (28 not out) including two huge sixes put on 33. Lymington were home by six wickets with seven overs to spare.

This coming Saturday Lymington are at home to St Cross Symondians in a tasty top of the table clash including given added spice by the Dhariwal brothers, two of the Premier League top batters, being in opposition. The game will inevitably have a bearing on the league title with Lymington anxious to avenge the one run defeat earlier in the season their only loss. This is a 120 over game with an 11 am start at the sports ground.

Photos courtesy of James Robinson