Lymington struggled against last season’s league champions St Cross Symondians but in the end the rain intervened and the game abandoned. Two of the walking wounded from the game the previous weekend were able to play and at least the performance was more resilient.

Losing the toss the opposition put Lymington in to bat on a damp cloudy morning that offered some help to the seamers. The openers Terry Crabb (5) and Robbie Hemmings (3) were soon back in the pavilion out to overseas Australian player Max Keogh (3-19). All the Lymington middle order got in but were unable to build on the good start. Ryan Scott (12) and then Gareth Berg (17), still struggling with his finger injury, steadied the ship before former Lymington player Monam Abbas (2-42) had a successful lbw decision. As always Jovan Dhariwal with another patient knock batted with good technique and with overseas player Charlie Wilson, who top scored with 38, put on 30 for the fifth wicket. Just as the pair were getting going there was an unfortunate run-out of Dhariwal. Wilson though was undeterred as he and Josh Royan (25), Lymington’s most consistent batsman this season, put on 50 for the sixth wicket before Wilson having hit two massive sixes was out lbw to Abbas. Yet as has been the perennial failing of the tail the last five wickets fell for just 14 runs with the last four batsmen only accumulating two runs as Charlie Gwynn (2-19) took late wickets.

The low Lymington total required an early breakthrough but this was not to be as the St. Cross openers scampered along putting on 98 for the first wicket in 16 overs. Jack Bransgrove, the son of Rod the entrepreneur who transformed Hampshire cricket, soon got in the grove. With rain beckoning Bransgrove holed out to a good catch on the boundary by Jovan Dhariwal. This was off the bowling of youngster Thor Howell (1-22) who gained some reward after having conceded 16 runs in his previous over. Fellow opening bat Monam Abbas (24 not out) was more subdued and also determined not to be out to his father Asad (0-21) the first time they have been in opposition.

As Bransgrove walked off, the rain got heavier and the players came off at 15.40 never to return even though only 42 runs were required off nearly 34 overs. But this was not the end of the drama since as overs were being lost then under the infamous DLS rule it was established after consultation that only one run was required by St. Cross as the side had already reached the “par” score. But it was not to be.

This coming Saturday the team are at home to Burridge and will be anxious to get a good result and move up the league table. As with all games this season there will be an 11 am start.

Photo: Charlie Wilson at the crease. Photo courtesy of James Robinson