SPCL2 Week6 - Sparsholt stun Lymington as OTR stay top

Old Tauntonians & Romsey are out on their own at the top of Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 after Lymington's shock defeat at Sparsholt.

The overnight leaders came unstuck by two wickets at the Norman Edwards Ground to leave OTR - nine-wicket winners over Burridge - boasting the only unbeaten record.

Neil Cunningham (56) fought a lone battle to keep Burridge afloat and got precious little support as Max Smith (3-35) and two-wicket pair Jeremy Ord and Raj Naik put through their order.

A total of 147-9 was never likely to test OT's, who romped home with Charlie Forward (73) and Naik (42) sharing an unbroken century stand.

A top order collapse, in which five wickets fell for seven runs, cost Lymington dear on a damp surface at Sparsholt.

At 63-0 and Glyn Treagus (35) going well, Lymington appeared to have few problems. But left-armer Mike Ball (3-29) disrupted proceedings to leave the visitors tottering at 70-5 before Matt Malloy (41) retrieved an uncertain situation.

Christian Pain (22) and Dave Coles (20) lifted Lymington to 181, with Ian Ellis (3-40) and Ollie Kelly (2-38) sharing the spoils.

Sparsholt's response went in fits and starts, with Tim Richings (36) doing the bulk of the early scoring and Bill Gunyon (30) having to hold things together when the wickets started to tumble.

When Pain (3-38) and Danny Peacock (2-42) had Sparsholt wobbling at 94-5, the game was in the balance.

But Australian left-hander Jez Lawson took the initiative and carried Sparsholt to an unexpected first win at 182-8.

Easton & Martyr Worthy trounced United Services by nine wickets after skittling the Portsmouth side for 98 at Cockets Mead.

Mark Stone's 4-18 return had US in dire straits at 32-6, but Gary Braithwaite (37) at least made a game of it. Ashley Spencer (32) and Shaun Green (33 not out) swept EMW home.

Problems appear to be piling up for Gosport Borough, who plunged to a fifth successive defeat, losing by 97 runs to Hursley Park.

Paul Edwards (55) guided Hursley to 148-4, but must have been distraught to see the last six wickets tumble for 23 runs and his side plunge to 171 all out (Paul Jenkins 4-44).

But it was more than enough for Gosport, who sank from 39-1 (Lee Wateridge 36) to 93 all out, with Rob Lowe (4-6) and Stu Wilson (3-21) doing the damage.

St Cross Symondians' match with Purbrook was called off after Friday's rain.