It was not a good day for Lymington as the side capitulated to a 263 run loss to Bournemouth. Injuries to three players did not help in what proved to be a dramatic game for the club. Only 16-year old Thor Howell emerged with any credit taking three wickets. Batting and bowling all suffered and as captain Gareth Berg was forced to admit“ there was an element of embarrassment” in the defeat not helped by the lack of game time in the build up to thisfixture.  

Winning the toss Lymington decided to field but it did not prove to be a wise decision. Bournemouth got off to a solid start as South African overseas player Ben Van Der Merwe (44) and Alfie Appleby Ingram (25) put on 61 for the first wicket. It took Howell (3-67) only one ball to break this partnership, bowling Ingram and then shortly afterwards having Van Der Merwe caught by keeper Robbie Hemmings.

Bournemouth University student Rj Jhala (76) played a patient knock supported by James Van Gool (34) but it was the brutal attacking of Ben Rogers (97 in just 73 balls) that took the Lymington bowlers apart. Rogers also benefited from an easy dropped catch. Asad Abbas (0-41) might have considered himself unlucky with two dropped catches behind the stumps. Gareth Berg was also restricted by a finger injury that limited his bowling and then Ryan Scott, due to bat later at number three, had to go to hospital after being hit on the chin by an awkward bouncing ball.

The formidable total required a good start by the Lymington batting but it was not to be with opener Crabb (11) soon out. Fellow opener Dom Hand (5) followed having to retire with a broken finger after being hit on the hand by a pacey delivery from opening bowler Cole Rushforth (3-23). Rushforth then went on to rip out the middle order including a first ball duck for Berg and then Charlie Wilson and Robbie Hemmings also both without scoring. Josh Royan (11 not out) did his best to hold the later order together but with little support as Lymington subsided to 71 in just 17 overs. JW Brehaut (4-31) also did much damage getting both top and later order batsmen.   

This coming Saturday the team have an away game at last season’s champions St. Cross Symondians in another 50-50overs match with an 11 am start. Lymington needs to get back on track as Berg said by “drawing the line and moving forward”. The side also has a point to prove as it lost heavily to St. Cross in the final of the T20 at the end of last season. At least though ex Lymington player Kamran Dhariwal who was instrumental in this defeat will not be turning out for the opposition on Saturday.

Photo of Thor Howell courtesy of Ian Thacker