Late Sheppard Strike Leaves Lymington Looking Sheepish

Hampshire Academy v Lymington Report

Lymington v Hampshire Academy
ECB Southern Electric Premier League
Saturday 18 May 2011
Sports Ground

Summary: Hampshire Academy beat Lymington by 133 runs
Hampshire Academy: 281-6 d
Lymington: 148 ao

England Under-19 pace bowler Jack Sheppard took three wickets in four deliveries to give the Hampshire Academy a dramatic victory over ECB Southern Electric Premier League rivals Lymington at the Sports Ground.

His penultimate-over blitz clinched a thumping 133-run victory for the Young Royals, who for long periods looked as though they might be frustrated by Lymington’s lower-order.

Law student Simon Beetham and Ollie Kelly battled for over 90 minutes in a gallant bid to stave off defeat, but eventually conceded in the closing stages.

Lymington were dismissed for 148, having seen the Academy youngsters battle their own way to 281-6 declared.

Despite being without three front line bowlers, Lymington enjoyed some early successes with the tall, well built Beetham dismissing Rob Gibson and Michael Bates in successive overs to leave the Academy 28-2.

Tim Ravenscroft made a bright 14 before being run-out by Beetham – it looked a very tight call – at 56-3.

The Academy innings began to take shape during the mid-morning partnership between Jake George and Oli Green (pictured below).

George, who made 53 to score a second consecutive half-century, and Green, who hails from Falkland on the Berkshire county border, added 67 in a stand that wrested the early initiative away from the New Forest side.

When the pair were separated, the Academy were 146-5 and the match was at a potential crossroads.

Jamie Miller (26) helped push the total on to 175-6 when Guy Layman celebrated his maiden Premier League wicket.

That was to be the last success Lymington were to enjoy.

Lewis McManus (51) and James Haggaty (57) both hit unbeaten half-centuries – it was the Clayesmore School wicketkeeper’s first in the SPL arena – in an undefeated 106-run stand which eased the Young Royals to 281-6.

“We always planned to declare after 60 overs and to see Lewis and James bat so positively was very rewarding and put us in a strong position,” smiled Academy manager Tony Middleton.

Lymington’s reply began in disastrous fashion with Dorset all-rounder Glyn Treagus caught low down at slip by Gibson off Haggaty’s first ball. To see the one-time Hampshire 2nd XI 'walk' (it was a low catch) was very refreshing.

But the Hampshire hopefuls were frustrated as rain drove the players from the field.

After a premature tea break, the Academy soon began to eek their way into the Lymington order.

Haggaty, bowling left-arm seam and getting help from the damp surface, took 4-30 to have Lymington rocking at 65-6 – three wickets falling for the addition of one run at one stage.

But having lurched to 69-7, Lymington shut up the barricades – and almost hung on.

Beetham, who switched from South Wilts when he began his law degree course at Bournemouth University, made a Premier Division best 63 and doubled the Lymington total in a gutsy stand of 79.

The pair looked as they might hang on as the Academy became increasingly frustrated.

However, in the penultimate over, Sheppard dropped a ball short for Beetham to invitingly pull into the safe hands of Haggaty at widish square-leg.

Two balls later, Sheppard re-arranged Scott Tapper’s stumps and with his next delivery trapped Layman first ball.

Lymington’s last three wickets had fallen in four balls, with the side dismissed for 148.

Words: Mike Vimpany
Images: LMI Photography

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