Redlynch and Hale's season off to a flying start thanks to openers

Andrew Soutar, in his second year of captaincy, won the toss and chose to bat first on a hot, early May day, which proved to be the right call.

The opening pair of Ian Tanner and Charlie Everett laid the foundation with a 94-run stand despite an accurate early bowling display.

But, come the bowling changes, Everett eventually blew the pre-season cobwebs away and hit a classy 66 from 55 balls, which included 12 boundaries.

Harvey Boardman

Tanner played the long game but eventually fell for 46, which then ignited a collapse from 134-2 to 146-6, with Lymington’s experienced slow-bowler Ian Bliss doing the damage, picking up a 5-38.

A short but sweet cameo from Will Hewlett (23) and some vital lower order runs from George Hayes (18) pushed the total towards what was thought just below a par score of 198-9.

Lymington’s opening bowlers John Carrington (2-18) and Connor Jackson (2-29) did their best to restrict Redlynch to a chase-able target.

It seemed the chase was succeeding quickly, with early runs from Ronak Patel and Torquil Deacon, but Jack Sobucinski got the breakthrough to restrict it.

The middle overs were then controlled by a father and son combination, Stan Boardman, and son, Harvey, were swinging the ball in tandem in a first for the family. Stan said: “It is something I’ll remember forever, I’m surprised it’s taken this long though.”

Harvey Boardman was bowling effortlessly great deliveries upon his return from an ACL injury last year, ending with excellent figures of 5-10. The wicked leg-spin of George Hayes cleaned up the tail (3-6) and Lymington fell plenty short at the end.

And in Div 5 (NW) the Club’s 2nd string made it 2 wins out of 2 at Great Durnford. The hosts advanced to 176-7 with Ambrose 56 and wickets for Jack Cobern (3-18), Matt Cole (2-38) and young Sam McKie (2-50).

In reply, Dom Sell (23) and Ewan Tanner put on 65 on the board, before the latter went on to an excellent career best of 75 not out.

Archie Boardman’s 56, in a stand of 100 with Tanner broke the back of the chase as the target was overhauled with 11 overs and 7 wickets in hand.

Meanwhile at Hatchet Green, Hale the veterans and youngsters of the club’s 3rd XI as expected, were duly dispatched by newly reformed East Tytherley, who, due to the vagaries of the Hampshire League rules, have to start in the lowest league, despite containing several former Southern Premier Players.

In a game played in the perfect “Spirit of Cricket”, the hosts struggled to 43 all out in 26 overs with Matt Metcalfe 4-8. Not surprisingly, Will Edwards (35*) and Mark Allen (4*) took just 18 balls to take the points.