SPL Premier Division cricket: Lymington feel the heat after Morton masterclass
SPL Premier Division
South Wilts CC 317-5
Lymington CC 263-5
LYMINGTON slipped to a losing draw after a batting masterclass from South Wilts opener Tom Morton, who dominated with one of the highest scores the league has seen.
Despite starting the match with a depleted line-up, Lymington made decent fist of it against last season's champions, who failed to win despite Morton's 196.
Opener Morton dominated the innings with 26 fours and three sixes while spending more than four hours at the crease and facing 187 balls. He was on track to score 200 until playing a loose shot to Ryan Scott off the bowling of Dan Cox (2-44).
Fellow opener Jack Stearman (66) put on 196 with Morton for the first wicket in 40 overs before he became Cox's first, out LBW.
Peter Rowe replaced Stearman and put on 68 runs with Morton for the second wicket before he became Jude Tollerfield's (3-41) first victim.
South Wilts finally declared after 59.5 overs.
Regular opener and captain Terry Crabb (22) and stand-in opener Ryan Scott put on 65 for the first wicket before Mumbai-based left-arm spinner Aaryan Sen (2-73) bowled the skipper.
Scott (70) played another composed knock which included 12 fours and one six, and when Conor Moors joined him, the pair put on 71 for the second wicket. Moors (87) was again in attacking mode as he bludgeoned 68 in boundaries which included some enormous sixes despite the large outfield.
Once Scott was out LBW to spinner Jack Mynott (1-51), Moors was joined by keeper Ali Wheble (27 not out). At one stage, Lymington were 202-2 with 22 of the 61 overs remaining and were up with the run rate. However, once Moors was out to Sen, Josh Royan (34) and Wheble could not maintain the momentum, and Lymington finished 54 runs short.
South Wilts opening bowlers Josh Croom (1-32) and Matthew Burton (1-30) took two late wickets, the only ones taken all day by the fast bowlers.
Lymington are back in league action on at 11am Saturday at home against local rivals Totton and Eling in another timed game.
