SPL Premier: Lymington crushed by Hampshire Academy

SPL Premier Division
Lymington CC 123
Hampshire Academy CC 124-2

LYMINGTON'S topsy-turvy form continued with a heavy home defeat to Hampshire Academy at the Sports Ground.

The depleted hosts, who continue to suffer from a shortage of first-team players due to ongoing injuries and player availability, lost by eight wickets in a game that had finished by mid-afternoon – in stark contrast to their eight-wicket victory last weekend which finished even earlier.

Returning captain Terry Crabb, struggling manfully with his ongoing Achilles injury, again lost the toss and opposition captain Joseph Eckland inevitably put Lymington in to bat.

Although Lymington at one stage were 47-2, the shortage of top-order batters eventually told. Opener Ben Rogers (26) did not hang about, taking only 25 balls while putting on 26 with fellow opener Dan Cox (8) and 21 with Ali Wheble (31).

Once Rogers was out to opening bowler Ethan Martin (2-32), the middle-order collapsed with five wickets falling for 31 runs – fast bowler Jude Wright (3-12) doing the damage.

After seeing so many team-mates getting out quickly, Wheble helped steady the ship in a patient, disciplined knock which took 114 balls. He was joined by veteran Ed Freeman (24) as the pair scored 42 runs for the seventh wicket. However, once opening bowler Dominic Kelly (4-23) took Wheble, Lymington lost their last four for just three runs, with Kelly taking 3-4 in just 3.2 overs to polish off the innings.

Fifteen-year-old fast bowler Oliver Cordery was also impressive, conceding just six runs in his six-over spell.

In reply, Hampshire Academy made light work of knocking off the total, using only 20 overs from the 74 available. Lymington got off to a good start when Charlie Mumford (4) was caught in the slips by Terry Crabb off Ed Freeman (1-16), but fellow opener Tom Cheater (55) was already getting into his stride in a 59-ball knock which included nine fours and one six. He and Dominic Kelly (38 not out), with seven fours, put on 67 runs for the second wicket before Cheater was out to Rony Patel (1-10).

Joseph Eckland (17 not out) then joined Kelly to see Academy home.

This weekend, Lymington face the long trip to Hook & Newnham Basics, a side one place lower than them in the table.