The pairs team cap off a wonderful season with a superb performance to see off our old foes New Milton. Still sore at being beat by this side at the start of the season we knew we had to play at our best to win and boy did the team deliver!

Captain Otto stuck to the formula, won the toss and put new Milton into bat. I am reliably informed that the opening pair were burly year 8’s and they batted with strength and ferocity. Otto and Bowie bowled straight and true, but they could not stem the onslaught and the runs piled on.

The next pair also started at a pace and Bruno, who again bowled a great line and length, was subjected to some fine batting. Zack W, aka ‘The Rock’ entered the fray and was unlucky not to take a wicket with a fine spell of bowling, pressuring New Milton with some excellent full-length deliveries.

Lymington whose confidence had been dented in the first few overs kept at the task and fielded with determination. Next up to bowl were Bella and Charlotte, whose pace and accuracy stopped New Milton in their tracks and slowed their run rate. Char, our yorker specialist, did it again in her second over and split the stumps to take the much needed first wicket of the innings. Otto and Max did some fine work behind the stumps to ensure no byes were lost.

And so, to the final batting pair, cushioned by the already healthy score of 269 runs, Jonah and Max needed to be at their best for the team to keep us in the match. As with all our games there have been moments when you can see a game shift and you think to yourself, we can do this. Jonah bowled out of his skin with a devilish spell of left arm over, slicing across the batter posting a superb wicket maiden. Max too was on form, bowling with positivity and confidence. His penultima ball was a beautiful delivery, air punchingly good, and blew the ‘bails to Wales’, and the team roared with delight and marched off the pitched energised for the chase.

Capitalising on the moment were Bella and Char, who took the game to New Milton. They worked hard together pouncing on every run, bye or over throw, running like their lives depended on it. As their confidence grew on came the shots and Charlotte posted her best inning of the season with shots all-round the field and 3 sublime 4s. Together they put on a total of 24 without loss to give the team a solid foundation.

Next up Bruno and Zack continued to add runs. New Milton fought back with some good bowling and sharp fielding and the pair were forced to work hard for every run, pushing the ball into the gaps. I know they wanted more run but the 14 they added was an essential part of what is needed to win, everyone contributing to the total.

Otto and Bowie batting third pair entered with at 28 runs to win, still a hill to climb and we knew the game could swing in any direction. Otto dispelled any doubt by dispatching his first two deliveries to the boundary and ran like the wind with his partner Bowie to capitalise on every opportunity. The team sensed the moment and whooped and hollered from the boundary. Otto batted with confidence and flair hitting his highest score of the season posting 23 without loss. Bowie too, in the support role was invaluable and smashed a glorious 4 and made some terrific runs with shots into the gaps.

There was no let up from our final pair Jonah and Max, who in game winning mode mercilessly added another 24 runs to Lymington’s total. Not only that, they batted with style and grace, Jonah hooking and cutting the ball into space and Max bring the game home with a fabulous straight drive.

Well done Lymington, what a season. Thanks to everyone who has played this year and to all the parents who have helped us on and off the field. Thanks also to Simon our head coach and our other coaches, Guy, Simon and James who have done such sterling work at all our training session.

Happy summer all.