Hartshorn shines as Lymington lose to Havant

SPL Premier Division
Havant CC 237-9
Lymington CC 115

LYMINGTON'S trait of blowing hot and cold seems to have returned this season after a stuttering defeat to Havant a week after dismissing local rivals Totton & Eling.

After a disciplined performance in the field, the batting collapsed, allowing Havant to win by 122 runs. The hosts were not helped by the ongoing absence of three top-order batters due to injury, and two run-outs.

However, it was a good day for Lymington's overseas player James Hartshorn, who captained the club for the first time and starred with both bat and ball.

Lymington again lost the toss, and Havant elected to bat. Openers Ben Walker (17) and Stuart Ransley (26) put on 26 for the first wicket before Peter Hopson (42) arrived and took the score to 126 before he was third out.

The middle-order batsmen Harry Gadd (57) and Chris Stone (37) then threatened to take the game away from Lymington before a mix-up saw Stone run out by Henry Edwards.

Gadd was then bowled next ball by Isle of Wight youngster Ollie Morgan (1-38) in his first league wicket for the club. Opening, he bowled tightly in his 10-over spell, after which Lymington took the initiative with six wickets falling for just 47 runs as Havant finished on 237-9 from their 50 overs.

Lymington's other opening bowler James Hartshorn inflicted the bulk of the damage, taking his first five-for (5-39) with another disciplined spell. Dan Cox (1-55) was the other wicket-taker but was a bit more expensive than usual, and he also got a run-out. Keeper Ali Wheble again performed well behind the stumps taking four catches.

Batting after tea, Lymington batting collapsed and quickly fell to 5-3 as Havant openers Richard Jerry (2-22) and Sonny Reynolds (2-18) tore into the Lymington batting. However, Hartshorn (48 with six boundaries) held the innings together before he was ninth out after working his way through multiple partners. Hartshorn and Cox (15) put on 40 for the fifth wicket, but the innings then subsided as the last six wickets fell for just 43 runs, with Morgan (13) the main contributor.

Havant spinners Freddie Gadd (2-21), Richard Hindley (1-23) and Chris Stone (1-11) were the other wicket-takers.

Lymington are away to Burridge in the first timed game of the season with an 11.30am start on Saturday.