SPCL 2 - Lymington break record as 280 is not enough

Boosted by a century from skipper Danny Peacock, Lymington produced a stunning recovery to score 286-8 and beat Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 rivals Hungerford by two wickets at the town Sports Ground.

Hungerford's daunting 280-5 was the highest score ever overhauled by a side batting second in 34 years of Southern League cricket.

Lymington not only won after being in trouble at 117-5 after 28 overs of their reply. But did so with an over to spare!

Peacock and Lymington's former captain Neil Trestrail turned the match on its head with a quick-fire century stand before Martin Hunt and finally Ian Young clinched a stunning victory.

Ironically, Peacock, a former Zimbabwean A all-rounder, had been struggling to find his touch during previous partnerships with Ben Craft (33) - whom he bizarrely ran out - and Matt Molloy (24) as Lymington dipped to 117-5.

But he came into his own with Trestrail alongside - the pair taking a bemused Hungerford attack by the scruff of the neck in an 11-over blitz which saw Lymington's total rise by 106 to 223-6 when the MCC man departed.

South African David Pryke apart, the six-man Hungerford attack was frequently hit for anything between ten and 15 runs an over as Lymington sighted an improbable victory.

Peacock had hit two 6s and 12 fours in a superb 100 before Pryke (2-23) clipped his outside edge to provide Nick Wilton, the former Sussex wicket keeper, with a fourth victim.

But even at 235-7 Lymington - still requiring 46 runs for victory off the last eight overs - refused to give in.

Left-hander Martin Hunt (30) called the shots in a fruitful eighth-wicket rally with Young before skying a catch to Pryke at cover.

At 280-8, Lymington were almost home and dry - but Young (26 not out) enjoyed his moment of glory by straight-driving former MCC Groundstaff all-rounder Owen Dawkins for a match-clinching six.

Lymington could hardly have anticipated such a memorable two-wicket victory after Dawkins and Hampshire's Jason Laney had given them the run-around during a 183-run opening partnership.

The stand was far from full of big hitting; instead, simply a steady accumulation of runs.

Laney struck only four boundaries in his crisply built 73, while Dawkins hit a six and nine fours as he carried his bat for an undefeated 111.

Nick Wilton (33) helped the Hungerford score along - but, in the end, neither he nor Dawkins could have ever imagined a total of 280-5 being beaten in a 50-over match.

The Hampshire Academy moved to the top of Division 2 with an uneasy four-wicket win over Sparsholt at the Norman Edwards Memorial Ground.

Their victory owed much to New Milton teenager David Wheeler, who hit a match-winning 53 after the Academy had dipped to 79-5.

Ian Stuart (42) and Olly Kelly (32) top scored in Sparsholt's 156-7, with Wheeler (2-34) and leg-spinner Ian Hilsum (2-25) taking the Academy bowling credits.

But the county's progress, from a seemingly sound 65-1, was interrupted as Andy Lang (2-43) and Ian Stuart (2-36) reduced the Academy to a worrying 79-5.

Enter David Wheeler, who took the situation in hand, shared a crucial 50 partnership with Hilsum and steered the youngsters home ... and to top spot.

Title contenders United Services and Easton & Martyr Worthy each had their games rained off.

Charles Forward continued his run spree, cracking 80 in Old Tauntonians & Romsey's nine-wicket triumph at Rowledge (143-8).