Midhurst slip up in run-feast - Emsworth are beaten too

Lymington v Midhurst

Hampshire League division one

Midhurst were unable secure what looked at one point to be a certain victory as they failed to capitalise on an excellent start with the bat and were punished for loose bowling.

Having won the toss on an excellent track, Midhurst’s opening stand was almost as pleasing on the eye as the New Forest scenery.

Graham Braithwaite led the charge with 83 which included 13 fours and a six which hit his own car.

Steve May contributed his fair share to the stand as they put on 138 in just under 25 overs before Braithwaite was dismissed.

As No3 Sam Cussins failed to trouble the scorers, and Steve May quickly followed him back, Midhurst seemed in freefall.

Jamie Hall and Simon Lush looked as though they might get Midhurst back on course for 300-plus. However, Lush picked up an unfortunate injury early in his innings which saw the return of Cussins to the middle as Lush’s runner.

Hall reached 28 in no time before holing out to long-on. Tom Hughes attempted the same shot and suffered the same fate and after Chris Adams and Tim Powell had been dismissed, and Lush’s valiant stand came to an end for 34, Midhurst were facing the possibility of not making it to 250.

Only solid work from Chris May saved Midhurst’s blushes as they finished on 252 from 50 overs - 30 short of a par total.

It was essential for Midhurst to start well. However, loose bowling and favorable batting conditions saw Lymington reach 50 for no wicket in ten overs – and 141 for one at drinks, they seemed certain of victory.

Captain Powell decided taking the pace off the ball was the solution, and the introduction of Hall and Ken Jones stemmed the flow of runs to an extent.

Jones, fresh from winter training in Arizona, proved particularly effective finishing with four for 49. Hall removed both opening batsmen.

Lymington’s three and four, Edwards and Webber, built on the opening stand making 29 and 45 respectively.

The game looked beyond doubt until a flurry of wickets from Jones and a fantastic run-out from specialist fielder Steve May with a direct hit left the innings following a similar pattern to Midhurst’s.

Going into the final ten overs Lymington needed 30 to win, but had only three wickets in hand.

After a fourth wicket from Jones it looked like Midhurst might pull off an unlikely victory. However, Lymington prevailed, leaving Midhurst to rue missed opportunities.

Midhurst sit sixth and host Ellingham on Saturday.

Emsworth v Bransgore

Division four

Emsworth slipped to a home defeat to Bransgore, the visitors winning in the 42nd over.

Emsworth were put into bat first and set about their innings with intent. Will Pitts (34) and Mick Offord (28) took the attack to the bowlers from the start before both were caught from the bowling of Bransgore’s M Jones.

Sitting on 130 for four at the drinks break, Emsworth looked set for a decent total of 200-plus, but wickets began to tumble and before long they were all out for a measly 161 – 40 runs short of something like a par score.

Bransgore made light work of Emsworth’s total, hitting the required runs with J Cox (66 not out) and M Thomas (32no) guiding them home.

Salthill v Soton Community III

Regional three south east

The local buzzard circled the Salthill pitch on Saturday and had a smile in its face with the pending slaughter of the lambs looking most likely.

However, a disappointing performance followed from Salthill against the travelling Southampton Community side.

The opposition elected to bat and struggled to reach 164. Steve King was again the top Salthill bowler, taking five for 53.

Salthill were in command at 116 for four and with plenty of overs remaining, but collapsed to 144 all out giving Southampton victory.