It was a batting collapse after lunch for the second week running that proved the turning point for Lymington as the side fell to a defeat by three wickets at Burridge.

Lymington won the toss and captain Gareth Berg elected to bat on a wicket that offered some help to the bowlers. The side had a poor start as the leading wicket taker for Burridge, Dan Stancliffe (5-31), had both Ethan Baker (1) and Karanveer Kooner (4) out cheaply. It was again left to the SPCL top run scorer this season, Terry Crabb (41), to stabilise the innings as he and Charlie Wilson (31) put on 57 for the third wicket before Crabb was caught off the bowling of Ben White (2-30).

Gareth Berg’s (1) poor batting form continued and then Wilson out lbw to Joseph Stevens (1-30) to a poor shot. Ryan Scott (31) then found some form and was joined by Josh Royan (14) and the side went into lunch at 129-5 but afterwards a dramatic batting collapse ensued with five wickets falling for just 11 runs in less than 6 overs. Dan Stancliffe got his fifer polishing off the tail with the help of Inayat Ullah (2-24). It was an innings at least 75 runs short of being a competitive total

Yet Burridge also had a poor start and at one stage had slumped to 21-3 and the side an opening batter short as Matthew Teale had picked up a hand injury during the Lymington innings. Charlie Wilson (3-44) removed both openers including Burridge’s leading run scorer this season, Joe Collings-Wells (0), with Gareth Berg (1-14), still struggling with an injury, taking the other wicket. But then Sachin Suresh (45) and Alex Brewer (34) gradually ceased the initiative putting on 73 for the fourth wicket before Thor Howell (1-30) had the scalp of Suresh.

When Alex Brewer was caught behind by Robbie Hemmings, who held four catches, Lymington sniffed
a chance of getting an improbable victory. The Burridge batters though dug in and at one stage scored only 19 runs in eight overs led by wily bowling from Assad Abbas (1-19) who also removed Inayat Ullah (9). Guy Layman (1-29) then had captain Daniel Stancliffe (10) caught behind but then Rocky Singh and Ben White (both 11 not out) saw Burridge home by three wickets.

The side remain one position off the bottom of the table with the gap to Bashley narrowing further. Desperate for a win, this coming Saturday the side are at home to newly promoted side Sarisbury This is again an 11 am start and the last timed over game of the season before the SPCL reverts back to limited overs cricket.

Photo: Courtesy of James Robinson