The race for the ECB Southern Premier Division championship has taken a dramatic twist in St Cross Symondians' favour.
After weeks clinging onto Lymington's coat tails, St Cross now find themselves ahead at the top - the title race having swung in their favour last weekend.
While St Cross were beating the Hampshire Academy by 104 runs, Lymington crashed to a remarkable defeat at Burridge, where they were bowled out for a meagre 48 and suffered a humiliating record 292-run defeat in the process.
It's given St Cross Symondians a nine-point lead at the top, ahead of Saturday's final all-day 'time pennant' visit to relegation-threatened South Wilts and four rounds of 50-over 'white' ball matches.
Ironically, Symondians' final match on August 30 is at Alton, who are now second in the log having beaten Basingstoke & North Hants last weekend.
St Cross Symondians' win over the Academy was far from straight-forward, the side being in some difficulty at 97-5 when Gloucestershire prospect Kaman Dhariwal (44) perished to one of several splendid catches taken by the Hampshire youngsters.
But St Cross bat in some depth, Gareth Schreuder (49) and Michael Haworth (34) added 50 and last wicket pair Matt Haworth and Ewan Neilson a priceless 35 to lift the total to 227.
The Academy suffered the worst possible start with in-form Freddie Gillett caught at slip off the first ball of their reply. After seven overs they were 29-3 and the contest effectively over.
Sam Mills (29) and Oli Williams (24) rallied, but Charlie Gwynn (4-27) was dominating with his left-arm spin and soon the Academy slipped to 123 all out.
After weeks clinging onto Lymington's coat tails, St Cross now find themselves ahead at the top - the title race having swung in their favour last weekend.
While St Cross were beating the Hampshire Academy by 104 runs, Lymington crashed to a remarkable defeat at Burridge, where they were bowled out for a meagre 48 and suffered a humiliating record 292-run defeat in the process.
It's given St Cross Symondians a nine-point lead at the top, ahead of Saturday's final all-day 'time pennant' visit to relegation-threatened South Wilts and four rounds of 50-over 'white' ball matches.
Ironically, Symondians' final match on August 30 is at Alton, who are now second in the log having beaten Basingstoke & North Hants last weekend.
St Cross Symondians' win over the Academy was far from straight-forward, the side being in some difficulty at 97-5 when Gloucestershire prospect Kaman Dhariwal (44) perished to one of several splendid catches taken by the Hampshire youngsters.
But St Cross bat in some depth, Gareth Schreuder (49) and Michael Haworth (34) added 50 and last wicket pair Matt Haworth and Ewan Neilson a priceless 35 to lift the total to 227.
The Academy suffered the worst possible start with in-form Freddie Gillett caught at slip off the first ball of their reply. After seven overs they were 29-3 and the contest effectively over.
Sam Mills (29) and Oli Williams (24) rallied, but Charlie Gwynn (4-27) was dominating with his left-arm spin and soon the Academy slipped to 123 all out.
