SPL Premier Division: Lymington CC beaten by St Cross Symondians

SPL Premier Division
St Cross Symondians CC 238-9
Lymington CC 160

Lymington CC suffered a 78-run defeat as they opened their league campaign against last year's league champions St Cross Symondians.

Despite the result, the team delivered a decent performance, with many players lacking game time and several unavailable.

The team also featured father-and-son duo Asad and Mohammad Abbas, who performed creditably in their debuts.

New Lymington captain Ben Rogers won the toss and decided to bowl given the damp conditions, and the hosts soon had Jack Bransgrove (1) back in the pavilion thanks to Guy Layman (1-19).

After several batting failures playing for Hampshire this season, St Cross Symondians' Felix Organ (50) found some form. However, his involvement ended much earlier after he was almost caught early in his innings.

However, together with Joseph Lewis (35), the pair put on 72 for the second wicket before Josh Royan (1-15) had Lewis bowled, and Felix soon followed with Ryan Attree taking a fine catch in the deep off Dan Cox (1-49).

Asad Abbas (3-31) bowled tightly, throttling the St Cross batting for a while, taking the wicket of Charlie Mumford (59) and Simon Woodruff (31). However, the St Cross middle order kept the score ticking over before four wickets fell for just 15 runs, with opening bowler Lewis Martin (2-49) taking two of them in his league debut.

In reply, Lymington's Ben Rogers (21) and Mohammad Abbas (20) got the side off to a solid start against tight bowling, putting on 48 for the first wicket, helped by a drying wicket before both batsmen fell to Michael Booth (3-11).

Then followed a middle-order batting collapse as four wickets fell for 13 runs before Terry Crabb (61 not out) steadied the ship with a patient knock. Initially, he was joined by Josh Royan (10) as the pair put on 46 for the fifth wicket. But wickets continued to fall steadily, with Crabb running out of partners and Lymington finishing 78 runs short.

Lymington take on Hampshire Academy away on Saturday at 12.30pm.