Southern Electric Premier League - Division 2

Hursley Park (256 all out) lost to Lymington (258 for 8) by 2 runs

IN a superb game of cricket which kept a sizeable crowd enthralled, Hursley Park's expertise in winning in the last over deserted them as a run out on the fifth ball of the last over saw them defeated by the leaders.

It had all started so well, despite losing the toss, with Martin Taylor claiming two key wickets. Initially he caught and bowled Glyn Treagus, a centurion last week, and then forced Karl Whatham, Lymington's May player of the month, to lob a simple chance to Andy Marks.

Stu Wilson chipped in with the wicket of Martin Hunt as the visitors slumped to 36 for 3, and Oli Green had Neil Trestrail comfortably taken by Jimmy Taylor at 69.

Dan Peacock then joined Ben Craft, and with a stand of 129 took the initiative back. Craft dominated the bowling after a slow start. Once he got into his stride the boundaries flowed to the tune of five sixes and ten fours.

There was some respite when Peacock was bowled by Jimmy Taylor just short of his half-century, but Craft continued on his merry way until he edged to Ben Smyth for 129.

Wickets tumbled at the end with Martin Taylor prominent; he returned figures of 4 for 34.

Paul Marks and Adrian Small opened for Hursley and both survived routine chances early on before they proceeded to lay the foundations of what should have been a Hursley victory.

During their stand of 147 Lymington keeper Scott Sivier nipped out from behind the stumps to collect the ball and turned his ankle over; his departure to hospital was the only blemish on a superb game.

Eventually, Small came down the wicket to Treagus and was stumped by Peacock 77.

Paul Edwards hit one glorious square drive before being stumped off a wide, and Jimmy Taylor, after a brisk 17, failed to beat Ben Craft's throw and was run out.

57 were required from eight overs, but a flurry of wickets - including that of Paul Marks, for exactly 100, his first league century for Hursley - left 27 needed.

A huge straight six from Martin Taylor gave Hursley hope, but he was run out to leave 12 wanted from the last over.

Stu Wilson scrambled a single and three twos; a dropped catch saw two runs, but attempting a third Andy Marks was run out to leave Lymington the victors by two runs with one ball to spare.

Lymington skipper Peacock was the architect of the middle-order collapse, taking 4 for 47 as well as the key catch to dismiss Paul Marks.

Hursley Park II were beaten by one wicket at Compton & Chandler's Ford in County Division 2 (report on page 25).

But the 3rd XI maintained their unbeaten Division 3 North East run with a nine-wicket victory at Oakley.

Oakley batted first, and were restricted by some excellent bowling by all of the Hursley Park bowlers. Eventually they crawled to 76 for 9 with the pick of the bowlers being leg-spinner Mike Moreton, who returned 6 wickets for 4 runs off 7 overs!

An opening partnership between Dave Tozer (45) and Richard Conroy (19no) ensured that Hursley reached their target for the loss of just one wicket after 16 overs.