Lymington enjoyed a second successive victory against Alton at the Jubilee Playing Fields and after another few batting scares at the beginning of the innings eased home by five wickets. Guy Layman (5-23) was inevitably delighted after the game as it was my “first five wicket haul for some years”.

Having won the toss Lymington decided to field first and took advantage of the wicket that offered help to the seamers. Gareth Berg (2-14) was first to exploit the conditions and soon bowled Sam Ruffell (4). Charlie Wilson (2-45) then had Olly Bouton (8) caught by wicket keeper Conor Moors with the first of his three victims. Alex Corbett (14) was then lbw to Asad Abbas (1-40). Then it was the Guy Layman show as he took the wicket of captain Scott Myers (1), Alton’s top league scorer this season, followed by the opener Harry Bater (20). Jude Wright (2) and Tom South (0) were soon out to give Layman four wickets in 14 balls and Alton on the slide at 55-7.

The last three wickets rallied putting on 99 runs spearheaded by Bash Walters (41 not out) helped by Fred Eggleston (22) as the pair put on 33 runs and then Walters had a partnership of 20 with Dan Sumner (6). This was capped by a lively last wicket stand of 46 with Zach Gaddsby (26) in seven overs frustrating the Lymington bowlers. Yet Layman was not to be denied his fifer having Gadsby caught by Ethan Baker before leading the players off the pitch. A total of 154 was well below par and so it proved.

In reply, the Lymington batters again struggled and at one stage had slipped to 68-4. Ryan Scott (9) promoted to open the batting again looked out of touch and fell to opening bowler Zach Gatsby (2-33) who then followed up with the wicket of Ethan Baker (9). Having started in good nick, opener Terry Crabb (23) fell to Bash Walters (1-20) who is the Alton leading wicket taker in the league this season. Conor Moors (7) was then out to Harry Bater (1-26).

Jovan Dhariwal (48 not out), whose brother Kamran and ex-Lymington player has just signed a professional contract with Gloucestershire, then joined Charlie Wilson and the pair put on 71 for the fifth wicket. The pitch was getting easier and the side was helped by Walters having to depart the game because of a family emergency and replaced by a sub who plays for the Alton ladies side. The pair seized the initiative before Wilson was out lbw to Egleston (1-24) and it was left to Dhariwal to hit the winning four having been joined by Gareth Berg (8 not out) and the side were home by five wickets.

Lymington remain one position off the relegation zone in spite of the win although the gap to Bashley has widened further. This coming Saturday the side are again away, to the Hampshire Academy, at the Utilita Bowl in another limited overs game with an 11 am start.