Lymington might have been considered as having one of the best batting line-ups in the Premier Division but no batter was able to take on the St Cross bowlers. This resulted in defeat by 152 runs with the Lymington innings only lasting 22 overs. The wicket was a bit slow but still true and contributed to several lbw decisions especially in the St. Cross innings.

It was a batting collapse of epic proportions and at one stage Lymington were 11-5. Charlie Gwynn (2-1) started the rout having out-of-form captain Ben Rogers (4) out lbw. Then Matt Haworth (5-26) got going having fellow opener Jovan Dhariwal (2) caught and bowled and the Premier Division leading run scorer Monam Abbas out for a two-ball duck. The wickets continued to tumble with Kyle Pike (3-43) removing most of the other top order including Kamran Dhariwal (11) who has also been in fine form.

Gareth Berg (17) held on for a while before being caught behind by Gareth Schreuder off Howarth. The highest partnership of the innings produced just 32 runs for the ninth wicket before Guy Layman (14) was caught off the bowling of Haworth. His partner Josh Royan (18 not out) was then left high and dry when Liam Thompson (1) was bowled by Gwynn.

In the St Cross Symondians innings the Lymington bowlers plugged away and at one stage the opposition had slipped to 102-6. Guy Layman (3-27) had opener Gregor McKenzie caught behind by keeper Conor Moors. Ex-Lymington player Gareth Schreuder was soon out to Gareth Beg (1-36). Monam Abbas (4-58), taking on the mantle as the main spinner from his dad Asad, removed captain Ed Ellis (12) and then opener Wilf La Fontaine Jackson (55) after a patient knock.

The St Cross batters were then let off the hook as Ben Foster (72 not out) held the lower order together. Together with second XI player Rory Acheson-Gray (41) the pair put on 75 runs for the seventh wicket in 19 overs before caught by Berg off the bowling of Layman.

This coming Saturday Lymington are at home with a return to limited overs games and a 12.30 start. Alton are relegation threatened but Lymington need a win if they are not to join them with five games to go.