Match report: Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) Premier Division table-toppers Lymington CC (188-7) defeat Bournemouth CC (185)

Lymington CC’s three-wicket home victory over Bournemouth means they sit atop the league summit as the only side to win their first two games.

Although the contest turned out to be a bit of a battle with a tight finish, Lymington finally got home by three wickets, writes Lionel Colby.

Bournemouth, having been put in to bat, slumped to 49-7 as a swinging new ball and putting it on the spot paid dividends, with sharp fielding helping.

Gareth Berg (2-26) and Eddie Withington (2-17) opened the bowling, with the latter bowling James van Gool (1) with his first ball and Luke Webb (0) with his ninth. They were crucial captures, with the duo scoring 126 runs last week.

Alvin Cameron (2-35) backed up the opening bowlers well.

Bournemouth wicketkeeper Ben Rogers (21) did his best to hold the top order together, but Tom Robinson (16) was the only other player to offer much resistance.

However, the game changed as Connor Smith (75 in 97 balls) played a disciplined innings, and he and tailender Cole Rushforth (38 in 73 balls) put on 100 for the eighth wicket.

Finally, an excellent run-out by Gareth Berg put an end to the partnership, and while Smith hung on, the Bournemouth innings subsided with their captain admitting the total of 185 was not enough.

Lymington captain Gareth Berg has injected a new positivity into the side, which started with the opening partnership, with Monam Abbas (40) firing 36 runs in boundaries.

With club debutant Ben Shoare (12), the openers raced to 51 for the first wicket before captain Simon Woodruff (3-38) had them both.

Terry Crabb (13) and Ryan Scott (27) carried the momentum forward.

However, it was then left to Gareth Berg (38), helped by a 50-run partnership with Scott, to essentially guide Lymington home until he was run out by Lewis Freak.

Bournemouth then sensed a chance, but Withington (21 not out) decided to attack, punching four fours. Being backed up by another league debutant, Harry Anstee (7 not out), the pair put on 26 runs to see Lymington home with almost 15 overs to spare.

With his left-arm spin, Conor Smith (2-41) was the other main Bournemouth wicket taker.

This Saturday, Lymington travels to Winchester to play St Cross Symondians, a tough fixture that will inevitably test Lymington’s mettle. The match will be a limited 50-overs game with a 12.30 start.