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Crushing win moves Lymington into promotion charge
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 21 July 2002
Lymington propelled themselves into the heart of the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 promotion race with a comprehensive 109-run victory over United Services at the Sports Ground.
Zimbabwean skipper Danny Peacock led the way for Lymington, top scoring in the New Forest club's powerful 265-9 and then taking four wickets as United Services dipped to a disappointing 156 all out in reply.
Lymington's sixth successive win sets up a titanic Rose Bowl duel next Saturday against the Hampshire Academy, who maintained the Division 2 leadership with a four-wicket success at Rowledge.
But Easton & Martyr Worthy are second - three points behind the Academy - after beating Old Tauntonians & Romsey by six wickets.
Lymington asserted their authority during the afternoon session, but initially were never entirely comfortable with 265-9, particularly after their own record-breaking 286-run chase against Hungerford a fortnight ago.
"After what happened in the Hungerford game, it was in the back of my mind that we might not have scored enough," Peacock admitted.
"But I backed our bowlers, particularly Aaron Heal and myself, both spinners, who I knew would be difficult to get away."
Lymington motored merrily along at four an over from the start, with Peacock's second-wicket partnership with Heal providing the platform for a sizeable total.
The young Western Australian left-hander didn't time the ball as sweetly as he might have liked, but hit nine fours in an effective 57 before departing at 112-2, just after the mid-innings drinks break.
Peacock and Ben Craft (42) ran well, really upping the anti and taking advantage of the fast outfield as Lymington moved menacingly to 202-2, with nine overs left.
But Peacock, who struck a six and seven fours in a fluent 75, and Craft departed in quick succession as United Services created middle-order inroads.
"I thought the lads came back well at that stage, taking four wickets for only six runs," said skipper Gary Hounsome.
But Lymington reasserted themselves through youngsters Ian Young (27) and Matt Molloy (23), who plundered 48 runs off the last five overs as the total advanced to 265-9 off 50 overs.
Zimbabwean wicket-keeper Warren Gilmour bagged four catches, all off Damian Carson, who finished with a rather expensive 5-74 off ten overs.
"I must say we fancied ourselves at tea. It was a great batting track, even though 266 was a lot to get.
"But we batted poorly, with all ten batsmen giving their wickets away. Bad shots got us out," Hounsome confessed.
US came out of the traps at breakneck speed - only to lose university pair Tom Clarke and James Robson to consecutive Trevor Phillips deliveries.
Their dismissals - Robson was bizarrely caught first ball at long-leg - set the tone for Services, who were clearly looking to the unwell, but nonetheless impressive Pete Andrew to fire their challenge.
Andrew, suffering from a bout of food poisoning, punished Phillips and left-armer Martin Hunt with a host of boundary shots.
But soon after Lymington switched from seam to spin, US began to buckle. Peacock, bowling off-spin, removed Hounsome (23) at 88-3 and then got the vital break at 104-4 by removing Andrew for a forceful 57.
The Services batsmen contrived to offer up catches all around - Peacock finishing with 4-33 and Heal, varying his flight and line, taking 3-40 as the Portsmouth side sank to 156 all out in the 35th over.
"To be all out with 15 overs left was little short of scandalous," Hounsome complained. "It just summed up the way we batted, but there was no doubt the better side won on the day."
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Daniel Peacock, Warren Gilmour. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |
| Grounds | Sports Ground, Southampton Road, Lymington |