SPCL Premier Division cricket: Lymington CC’s Gareth Berg and Monam Abbas lead side to second straight victory
SPCL Premier Division
St Cross Symondians CC 219-6
Lymington CC 223-4
LYMINGTON look to have recovered from a difficult start by beating St Cross Symondians by six wickets to secure back-to-back wins.
They got across the line comfortably with over 12 overs to spare to see off St Cross Symondians in their latest limited-overs game.
With captain Ben Rogers back at the helm, Lymington won the toss for the first time this season and also bowled first for the first time in 2024.
St Cross got off to an excellent start as Jack Bransgrove (41) and James Overy (25) put on 73 for the first wicket before Josh Royan (2-19) removed both in an excellent spell.
Charlie Gwynn (75 not out) then held the rest of the innings together with support from Wilf La Fontaine Jackson (20) until he was LBW to Asad Abbas (1-40).
However, ex-Lymington player Gareth Schreuder (6) did not last long before he was also out LBW to Monam Abbas (1-41), with the father and son duo keeping the run scoring down while bowling for 14 consecutive overs.
St Cross captain Ed Ellis (41) kept the scoreboard moving, but other batters struggled to get the Lymington bowlers away.
There was a last-over panic as Ellis was run out by Ryan Scott followed by Greg McKenzie (0) run out by Monam Abbas, while Guy Layman (0-17) and Gareth Berg (0-23) had good tight spells.
Chasing the St Cross total, Lymington did not get off to the best start as Ben Rogers (14) was soon back in the pavilion, caught off Matt Howarth (1-49).
When Ryan Scott (17) was bowled by Kyle Pluke (1-51) and Josh Ryan (4) out to Jack Bransgrove (2-36), back from injury, Lymington could have been in problems on 65-3 and with a long tail.
However, opener Monam Abbas (71) was in imperious form in an innings that included 10 fours, and he was joined by Gareth Berg (83 in 69 balls) as he thumped and stroked his way to 13 fours and one six.
The pair put on 109 runs for the fifth wicket in 18 overs as the St Cross bowling attack struggled during a spell that included 20 wides.
Jude Tollerfield (11 not out) then joined Berg, who hit the winning runs for four.
On Saturday, Lymington has its longest drive of the campaign, taking on an Alton side in the first timed game of the season (120 overs) with an 11am start.
Alton are propping up the table, having lost all four opening games so Lymington will be looking towards another victory.
However, they will be without Gareth Berg, who is on international duty with Italy, where he is the captain and coach of the national side in the ICC T20 Europe qualifiers.
