LYMINGTON WIN CUTS BASEMENT GAP TO TEN POINTS

Lymington threw themselves a lifeline in the ECB Southern Electric Premier League relegation scrap by beating fellow strugglers Ventnor by four wickets at the Sports Ground.
They thoroughly deserved their victory but, whilst trimming ten points off the deficit, still trail the Islanders by ten points with three 50-over matches remaining.
Lymington will enjoy a confidence boost from the win, but on a less pessimistic note they will probably have to win two of their last three games if they are to pull off cricket’s version of the Great Escape.
They visit second-placed South Wilts (next Saturday) and Bournemouth, with a final home game with Havant in between.
Ventnor’s run-in includes matches at Newclose against the Academy and Alton, with a visit to Southern Electric t20 Cup finalists Bashley (Rydal) in between.
With only one previous win to their credit, Lymington took the early initiative after winning the toss, with Simon Beetham (3-35) and Mark Rushworth (1-21) reducing Ventnor to 37-3.
Roger Miller ensured Lymington didn’t have everything their own way, however, and turned back the clock with a vintage all-round display, initially with the bat.
Miller, who switched from Havant in mid-season, held Ventnor together at 99-5, and was eventually dismissed for a splendidly struck 94 after the total had crept past 200.
His innings included two sixes and ten fours and, with limited support from Shaun Nowak (22) and Charlie Freeston saw Ventnor to 215-8 off 50 overs.
A brief rain interruption saw Lymington’s target cut to 208 off 46 overs – a challenge Tommy Barton (59) and Rushbrook (33) took on with relish.
The pair added 87 for the second wicket after Glyn Treagus had nicked Freeston (2-32) behind and gave Lymington the ideal launch pad for a positive run chase.
Ventnor’s heads visibly sagged in the field as the bowling became untidy and Lymington gained a firm hold.
It just wouldn’t be Lymington if everything went to plan and, just when their batsmen were in the ascendancy, three wickets fell – two of them to the revitalised Miller (3-21) – in quick succession.
When Rushbrook holed out to Ian Hilsum at deep mid-wicket and followed Barton back into the pavilion, Lymington, now 126-4, had to start again.
Cameron Grierson (20) and, more significantly, Wahid Khan steadied the ship, adding a precious 46.
Ventnor broke through again at 172-5 when Nowak clattered Grierson’s stumps, but Khan (31) continued to play very sensibly and, with Christian Pain (21 not out) alongside, almost saw Lymington home.
Khan perished at 199-6, giving Ventnor a seventh bonus point, but Lymington deservedly got home with nine balls of an absorbing encounter to spare.
Now they’ll have to beat one of the ‘big two’ if they are to achieve the Great Escape…..