Lymington somehow managed to slide to defeat in an absorbing contest at newly promoted Sarisbury Athletic. Lymington were in control for 80% of the game led by Terry Crabb with 93 runs and on the way to victory. This was until the last 18 overs saw the side concede 185 runs and the opposition home by 5 wickets with nearly three overs to spare. It was a dramatic collapse in the field with inevitable post mortems.

Lymington lost the toss but to the surprise of many Sarisbury elected to field first and could have regretted it as Lymington piled on the runs on a hot sunny day. Opener Terry Crabb has been threatening to get a good score and finally made it with a patient knock of 93 in 112 balls falling just short of a well-deserved century. The opening partnership has been a problem this season although the start was promising until Karanveer Kooner (20) was out to Connor Clark (4-46).

Crabb was then joined by Ryan Scott (40) as the pair put on 73 for the second wicket before Scott was out to Sarisbury captain Rob Franklin (1-58). There was then opposition jubilation when Clark had the scalp of captain Gareth Berg (6) as he failed for the third successive innings.

Overseas player Charlie Wilson (74 in 67 balls) that included 50 in boundaries is getting to grips with English conditions as he attacked the Sarisbury bowling putting on 94 with Crabb for the fourth wicket. Josh Royan (31 not out) continued his consistent form with support from the Chay brothers, Thor (8 not out) and Chay (3) until he ran out of overs.

Sarisbury had a mountain to climb made worse by the fact that at one stage they had slipped to 85-4. Both opening bowlers Charlie Wilson (1-48) and Gareth Berg (2-57) had tight opening spells. Sarisbury opener and Zimbabwean under 19 international Nathaniel Hlabangama (21) was caught by keeper Robbie Hemmings off Wilson and then Jack Robson (5) fell shortly afterwards lbw to Berg. Thor Howell (1-27) then took his total to six wickets in the SPL this season, the highest of any Lymington player, having Nathan Feltham (5) caught by Assad Abbas. With Ricky Rawlins (9) smartly run out by Ryan Scott, Lymington were odds on favourites.

However, opener Joe Baker (131 not out) had other ideas accelerating steadily during his innings. Joined by Joshua Williams (108 in 83 balls) the pair put on 195 for the fifth wicket in just 23 overs to largely see Sarisbury home before Williams was out lbw to Berg. The ball was being dispatched to all areas of the ground as the Lymington attack fell apart. But it could have gone the other way had Lymington held their catches.

This coming Saturday the team are at home to Alton in the first of the 120 overs timed games. Lymington remain at the foot of the table although only just adrift of local rivals Bashley with neither club having achieved a victory so far this season.

Opener Terry Crabb top scored for Lymington. Photographer James Robinson