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Lymington pip unlucky Baddesley to New Forest Indoor title
Trevor Phillips - 19 February 2002
Lymington are the new champions of the New Forest Indoor Cricket League following their six wicket triumph over Burley. Requiring a maximum 12 point return from their final match to pip North Baddesley to the title, Lymington scraped their vital extra bowling point with just one ball of the Burley innings to spare.
That it took so long to bowl out Burley was, in the main, down to Paul Yates who struck a magnificent 74 before being athletically caught by Matt Molloy. Yates' innings - the highest individual score ever recorded in Division One - helped Burley to 118 all out, with John McGuirk's fiery late burst earning him two wickets.
Peter Tapper (27no) and Matt Molloy (25no) gave Lymington a solid start. This was continued by Trevor Phillips (25no) and it was left to McGuirk (18no) and Ed Molloy to guide Lymington to only their third title in the 25 year history of indoor cricket in the New Forest.
Lymington's triumph was desperately hard on North Baddesley. The two teams finished level on points, but Baddesley ended as runners-up courtesy of the fact that they had conceded 33 more runs than Lymington over the course of the season.
But, crucially, Baddesley had one match cancelled due to their opposition being unable to raise a side, and under the league rules Baddesley were awarded the match but received no bonus points - and those potential bonus points ultimately may have cost them the title.
Lymington captain Wayne Smith admitted that North Baddesley, who hammered his team just a fortnight ago, probably deserved to win the League and added that perhaps the organisers should review the rules regarding this situation in future seasons.
For the record, North Baddesley cantered to victory in their final match against New Milton. Jon Bance, who was aiming to break his own record for the most runs scored in a season, once again shone with an unbeaten 50 as Baddesley totalled an unassailable 147 for 3.
But on this occasion even Bance's efforts were eclipsed by Milton's Dean Miller who stroked his way to a brilliant 73, which, until Paul Yates' mammoth innings just two hours later, was at the time the League's highest individual total. Alas, Miller's efforts were all to no avail as his side slumped to 104 all out in the tenth over.
Godshill confirmed their swift return to the top flight with a 3 wicket win over Pylewell Park. They finish as runners-up to Cadnam thanks principally to John Holderness (25no) who steered them home in the eleventh over as they successfully chased Pylewell's 121 all out.
Struggling Lymington Seconds threw themselves a lifeline in their battle to avoid relegation from Division Two as they beat fellow strugglers Brockenhurst by 3 wickets.
Dick Wickison (29) and Tony Dias (19) were the mainstays of Brock's modest 101 for 5. Tony Thorp then smashed a rapid 29 to set Lymington's reply on its way, but some good fielding and tight Brockenhurst bowling pegged them back. However, Jerry Holt (25no) finally found his form after a hesitant start, and it was left to the Reverend Simon Hayes (26no) to steer his team to victory with four balls to spare.
A win from their final match with Milford this Sunday will be enough to lift Lymington out of the relegation zone and condemn Milford and Brock to the dreaded drop to Division Three.
Going the other way will be the second teams of Pylewell Park and Bashley. With both sides already assured of promotion, they met to decide the destination of the Division Three trophy. And it was Pylewell who came out on top, winning the match by 54 runs.
Colin Kitcher flayed his massive willow to good effect, smashing an unbeaten 33 as Pylewell reached 120 for 3. Bashley were then restricted to just 76 for 4 with Andy McGregor remaining unbeaten on 27.
The other Division Three match saw Esso Thirds record a three wicket win over Pennington.
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