BOURNEMOUTH PREPARE TO BREAK OPEN THE CHAMPAGNE

Bournemouth will be crowned ECB Southern Electric Premier League champions after Saturday’s final match of the season against relegation threatened Lymington at Chapel Gate.
The Dorset club are in an unassailable position at the top after the penultimate round of matches was washed out.  Bournemouth’s rainy visit to St Cross Symondians ended at tea, after only 35 minuts of play, with the Winchester side struggling at 128-9.
With South Wilts similarly marooned at the Rose Bowl – where an unbeaten 93 by Benny Howell had fired the Hampshire Academy to 196-4 off 41 overs – Bournemouth were sitting pretty at the top.
They went into the match at the Royal Green Jackets Ground already 30 points of South Wilts, who were the only side who could mathematically catch them.  But with both sides left with a “no result”, Bournemouth were confirmed champions.
It is the first ECB Premier Division championship Bournemouth have won, although they did win silverware in the old Southern League in 1984 and 1996.
Bournemouth seam trio Scott Barlow (2-20), Ed Denham (2-21) and Simon Ridley (2-33), alongside Simon Watkins (2-34), gradually chipped away at the St Cross batting.
Charlie Esson (29) and Lawrie Prittipaul (28) took St Cross to 86-2, but the remainder of the batting fell away to 128-9 by the end of the rain-cut 35-overs.
Then the rain fell even harder – and Bournemouth started their celebrations a little earlier than planned.
Lymington will have to become real party poopers and ruin Bournemouth’s celebration day if they are to retain their own ECB Southern Electric Premier League status.
Quite simply, Lymington have to beat the new Premier League champions – or face the prospect of spending next season playing alongside Bournemouth 2nd XI and New Milton in Division 2.
The cancellation of Ventnor’s visit to Bashley (Rydal) and the abandonment of Lymington’s match with Havant in mid-afternoon leaves the Larks with an eight-point leeway to make up on the Steephill crew.  Ventnor’s last match is against Alton at Newclose, 1pm.
Lymington were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat against Havant when play was abandoned.
Steve Dean (62), Chris Morgan (41) and Richard Hindley (41) had already eased Havant to 193-5 when Jarrad Daniells struck a whirlwind 51 off only 17 balls, including five sixes !
Christian Pain bore the brunt of the assault, having two overs hit for 38 runs !
Havant’s 269-5 was reduced to 249 for victory off 38 overs, but the game abandoned with Lymington 20-1.
James Hibberd (2-25) struck two early blows for South Wilts at the Rose Bowl, but Howell (0 not out) and England Under-19 wicketkeeper Adam Rouse (60) added 147 for the third wicket.  The Academy closed at 196-4 after 37.4 overs.
Alton’s match against Totton & Eling at the Jubilee Ground was washed out.