Ryan Scott chalked up his maiden ECB Southern Electric Premier Division century with a career-best knock in Lymington’s ‘winning draw’ at Sarisbury Athletic – and then revealed his success was largely down to a back-garden ‘net’ with his mother two days earlier !
The 20-year old Southampton Solent University all-rounder, the son of Middlesex Head Coach Richard Scott, hit a quite splendid 136 not out as Lymington posted 261-6 before being thwarted as Sarisbury held on for a draw at 181-8, writes Mike Vimpany.
When he came in for the mid-innings break, having notched two sixes and 18 fours in an accomplished knock, Scott explained how his cricket-loving mother Julie had helped his preparations.
“I didn’t get a knock when we beat South Wilts last week and, with no Dorset Minor Counties match, I was a bit rusty and needed to get bat on ball for a while,” he said.
“Normally my dad would practice with me in the garden, but he was away with Middlesex, so mum took over the bowling duties.
“She did throw-downs with me for about 45 minutes, by which time I was hitting the ball sweetly and got my eye in.
“It’s nothing new. Cricket has been our family life since before I was born and those back garden sessions have been going since I was old enough to pick up a bat.”
Mum’s practice session certainly paid dividends as Scott produced the best innings of his fledgling career, hitting through the ball and driving shots sweetly across the fast Allotment Road outfield.
Felix Ambrose (33) and Matt Metcalfe (30) played the support roles as Lymington closed 261-6.
Sarisbury flew out of the traps, with Ricky Rawlins (30), still in good nick from his personal best 139 at Alton a fortnight ago, taking 13 off Metcalfe’s opening over.
Rawlins took Sarisbury’s reply to a brisk 40 before falling to a superb one-handed catch by Simon Beetham at mid-off.
Although the run rate was creeping up, Sarisbury progressed to 100-2 and provided themselves with a potential launch pad.
But Metcalfe (4-71) and Ben Ashkenazi (2-42) eked their way through the middle-order, removing Ryan Covey (39) as Sarisbury dropped to 166-8.
Ryan Burl contrived to be dismissed Handled the Ball – knocking the ball away with his hand as he tried to prevent it from hitting the stumps – amid the collapse.
But Lymington, frustrated by a late rain break, eventually ran out of time as Sarisbury reached 181-8 by stumps.
Simon Beetham admitted to a slither of frustration after Lymington had earned a 'winning draw'.
Skipper Beetham's major disappointment was the arrival of rainfall as Lymo attempted to dislodge tail-enders Dan Goldstraw and Josh Stuart-Hill.
Beetham said: "We were happy with the result but I think we felt we should have won.
"It started to drizzle a bit when they had eight wickets down, so the umpires took the teams off and that killed our flow.
"We managed to get back on for two-and-a-bit overs but we couldn't get the last two wickets.
"I think had the rain not come we could have won. We had been picking up wickets quite quickly so momentum was in our favour.
"But once we went back out, they knew all they had to do was bat for two overs and they would get the draw.
"It was a shame but you play to how the umpires interpret the rules and you respect that."
The 20-year old Southampton Solent University all-rounder, the son of Middlesex Head Coach Richard Scott, hit a quite splendid 136 not out as Lymington posted 261-6 before being thwarted as Sarisbury held on for a draw at 181-8, writes Mike Vimpany.
When he came in for the mid-innings break, having notched two sixes and 18 fours in an accomplished knock, Scott explained how his cricket-loving mother Julie had helped his preparations.
“I didn’t get a knock when we beat South Wilts last week and, with no Dorset Minor Counties match, I was a bit rusty and needed to get bat on ball for a while,” he said.
“Normally my dad would practice with me in the garden, but he was away with Middlesex, so mum took over the bowling duties.
“She did throw-downs with me for about 45 minutes, by which time I was hitting the ball sweetly and got my eye in.
“It’s nothing new. Cricket has been our family life since before I was born and those back garden sessions have been going since I was old enough to pick up a bat.”
Mum’s practice session certainly paid dividends as Scott produced the best innings of his fledgling career, hitting through the ball and driving shots sweetly across the fast Allotment Road outfield.
Felix Ambrose (33) and Matt Metcalfe (30) played the support roles as Lymington closed 261-6.
Sarisbury flew out of the traps, with Ricky Rawlins (30), still in good nick from his personal best 139 at Alton a fortnight ago, taking 13 off Metcalfe’s opening over.
Rawlins took Sarisbury’s reply to a brisk 40 before falling to a superb one-handed catch by Simon Beetham at mid-off.
Although the run rate was creeping up, Sarisbury progressed to 100-2 and provided themselves with a potential launch pad.
But Metcalfe (4-71) and Ben Ashkenazi (2-42) eked their way through the middle-order, removing Ryan Covey (39) as Sarisbury dropped to 166-8.
Ryan Burl contrived to be dismissed Handled the Ball – knocking the ball away with his hand as he tried to prevent it from hitting the stumps – amid the collapse.
But Lymington, frustrated by a late rain break, eventually ran out of time as Sarisbury reached 181-8 by stumps.
Simon Beetham admitted to a slither of frustration after Lymington had earned a 'winning draw'.
Skipper Beetham's major disappointment was the arrival of rainfall as Lymo attempted to dislodge tail-enders Dan Goldstraw and Josh Stuart-Hill.
Beetham said: "We were happy with the result but I think we felt we should have won.
"It started to drizzle a bit when they had eight wickets down, so the umpires took the teams off and that killed our flow.
"We managed to get back on for two-and-a-bit overs but we couldn't get the last two wickets.
"I think had the rain not come we could have won. We had been picking up wickets quite quickly so momentum was in our favour.
"But once we went back out, they knew all they had to do was bat for two overs and they would get the draw.
"It was a shame but you play to how the umpires interpret the rules and you respect that."