SPL Premier Division: Lymington ease relegation threat with return to winning ways with Totton & Eling thrashing

SPL Premier League

Lymington CC 282-5

Totton & Eling CC 159

AFTER a miserable spell of three straight losses, Lymington thrashed local rivals Totton & Eling by 123 runs to move up three places to seventh.

The Lymington victory came with Ryan Scott leading the way with a century, followed by Gareth Berg’s five-wicket haul.

It was a damp start to the morning and it was inevitable that as returning captain, Ben Rogers lost the toss.

The batting slump continued for Rogers (7) as he was soon out to opening bowler Sam Beer (1-38).

However, this was then followed by a partnership of 176 runs in 47 overs between Ryan Scott (143) and Jovan Dhariwal (65), with both benefiting from good batting technique in difficult conditions and a bit of luck at times.

Scott was then joined by Monam Abbas (26) as the pair put on 63 for the fourth wicket with both Scott and Abbas attacking the Totton bowling helped by the wicket drying out.

Scott’s innings lasted 71 balls with 13 fours and three sixes for his second century of the season, making him the third-highest premier division scorer so far this season.

Gareth Berg (16) then had a quick-fire knock, including a massive six into the Church of St Thomas cemetery before he was out to Josh Elliott (2-51), with Lymington finished on 282-5 in 64 overs.

Totton may have had the best bowling conditions, but that did not deter the Lymington attack.

The opposition were never in the hunt as Northants player Gareth Berg (5-38) tore into the top order taking the first four wickets.

There was limited resistance from the Totton middle-order batsmen led by Josh Elliott (29), while Zimbabweans Bothwell Chapungu (23) and captain Brighton Mugochi threatened for a while before left-arm spinner Asad Abbas (3-30) removed both.

Josh Royan (1-4) completed the rout after number 11 batsman Joe Bracey (29 not out), with six fours, had a few swipes.

In the end, Lymington were home by 123 runs with 12 overs to spare after an excellent all-round performance.