 Gareth Berg wicketless on Lymington debut ... |  ... but hit 40 of his 69 runs in boundaries to set up the victory. |
Gareth Berg went wicketless with the ball, but struck a match winning 69 with the bat as Lymington eased their ECB Southern Premier Division survival worries with a four-wicket win at Alton – a result which compounded the Brewers’ position at the foot of the table.
The Northants county cricketer, who lives on Southampton Waterside, conceded 45 runs off his ten overs, but his century fourth-wicket partnership with South African Ximus du Plooy effectively won the match for Lymington.
Earlier, Alton made a slow but steady start after being put into bat at the Jubilee, with Abhay Gonella (28) the second victim for Matt Metcalfe, who once again returned an economical 2-29.
The Northants county cricketer, who lives on Southampton Waterside, conceded 45 runs off his ten overs, but his century fourth-wicket partnership with South African Ximus du Plooy effectively won the match for Lymington.
Earlier, Alton made a slow but steady start after being put into bat at the Jubilee, with Abhay Gonella (28) the second victim for Matt Metcalfe, who once again returned an economical 2-29.
 Fletcha Middleton |  Dan Harris |
Alton threatened to take the game away from Lymington as Hampshire prospect Fletcha Middleton (82) and captain Daniel Harris (64) added 116, the Brewers skipper hitting a six and ten fours in his knock.
Middleton then enjoyed a 49-run stand with Scott Myers (25) as Alton progressed to 225-5.
Ben Rogers nicked a catch behind off Bash Walters (2-43) before PPP devotee Ryan Scott (37) featured in two prosperous stands with Dan Cox (16) and then Du Plooy (50), who made his second fifty in nine knocks.
But it was Berg’s arrival at the crease which sparked Lymington’s run chase. The Northants cricketer, always a handy lower-order batsman on the county scene, hit 40 of his 69 runs in fours as Alton’s under-strength bowling was flayed for 102 off 15.4 overs.
Almost typically for Lymington, a mini batting collapse followed as three wickets fell for only nine runs – 193-3 soon became 202-6 - to give Alton hope when all seemed lost. However, Henry Edwards (18 not out) and Liam McCurdy steadied the ship to see Lymington home with five overs to spare.
Middleton then enjoyed a 49-run stand with Scott Myers (25) as Alton progressed to 225-5.
Ben Rogers nicked a catch behind off Bash Walters (2-43) before PPP devotee Ryan Scott (37) featured in two prosperous stands with Dan Cox (16) and then Du Plooy (50), who made his second fifty in nine knocks.
But it was Berg’s arrival at the crease which sparked Lymington’s run chase. The Northants cricketer, always a handy lower-order batsman on the county scene, hit 40 of his 69 runs in fours as Alton’s under-strength bowling was flayed for 102 off 15.4 overs.
Almost typically for Lymington, a mini batting collapse followed as three wickets fell for only nine runs – 193-3 soon became 202-6 - to give Alton hope when all seemed lost. However, Henry Edwards (18 not out) and Liam McCurdy steadied the ship to see Lymington home with five overs to spare.
Matt Metcalfe bowled a tidy 2-29 for Lymington.
Ximus Du Plooy (50) whose century stand with Gareth Berg was key.
Action photographs by Howard Gadsby: https://howardgadsby.smugmug.com/Cricket/2021/Alton-v-Lymington/
