Southern Premier League cricket: Lymington lose to Basingstoke and North Hants

Southern Premier League

Basingstoke and North Hants 263-9

Lymington 169

LYMINGTON’S batting was again exposed with a fragile performance at Basingstoke’s Mays Bounty ground.

In the end they lost heavily, by 94 runs, to newly promoted Basingstoke and North Hants, reports Lionel Colby.

However, the game was played in good spirits after disciplinary incidents involving both sides earlier in the season.

Lymington again won the toss and captain Ben Rogers put the opposition in to bat on a damp, cloudy morning. Basingstoke got off to a steady start thanks to openers Alex Bovil (32) and under-16 player Abdullah Abid (52 from 115).

Gareth Berg (3-49) then removed the top of Bovill’s off-stump, and repeated this shortly afterwards in taking the wicket of Ashley Neal (10). George Metzger (40) then joined Abid as the pair put on 78 for the third wicket before Assad Abbas (2-33) took the wickets of both.

A middle-order batting collapse saw Basingstoke lose four wickets for 36 runs, helped by Liam Thompson (1-49) plus an excellent run-out by Josh Royan. However, Matt Deadman (63 not out) held firm including a 53-run partnership with captain Joe Oates (23).

Oates was then caught off the bowling of Monam Abbas (2-40) who then, with the help of his dad Asad, took a good catch in the deep, removing Matt Donaldson first ball.

In all, though, it was a disappointing bowling performance by Lymington, with some struggling in getting to grips with the sloping wicket.

Lymington’s batters struggled from the start and were soon 64-4 after 10 overs, opener Ben Rogers (15) bowled by Sachi Sivanandan (2-32).

Fellow opener Kamran Dhariwal (25), looking in good form, can consider himself unlucky as a strong strike from Conor Moors (31) was diverted on to the stumps by bowler Bradley Neal (1-33) in his follow through.

Jovan Dhariwal (37 not out), was playing well, though, in a knock lasting 83 balls and he and Moors put on 42 runs for the fifth wicket.

Gareth Berg (1) was out caught and bowled by Ashley Neal (2-29) after a full-blooded hit. Asad Abbas (24), again batting at number nine, was then involved in the highest partnership of the game (43 runs) for the second week running. However, Matt Donaldson (3-29) polished off the tail as three wickets fell for just two runs

This Saturday Lymington are at home to league leaders South Wilts. Lymington need to up their game if they are to finish the season in the top half of the table.