LYMINGTON’S unbeaten start in the top flight came to an end following a dramatic one-wicket defeat at the hands of old adversaries Ventnor at the Sports Ground.

Cameron Grierson (58) and Matt Metcalfe (48*) shared 75 for the sixth wicket as Lymington recovered from 63 for five to post a challenging 175 for seven on a bowler-friendly track.

Ventnor appeared to be cruising thanks to James Cheek (42) and Bournemouth old boy Chris Ridley (57), whose exploits helped them to 148 for four.

However, a flurry of wickets for all-rounder Darren Cowley (4-34) turned the tide in Lymington’s favour as the Islanders wobbled to 162 for nine.

But last pair Mark Holmes and Rob Snell held their nerve to see Ventnor home off the penultimate ball.

  • A third-wicket stand of 141 between captain Ryan Beck and Nick Park proved decisive as New Milton recorded a two-wicket win over Division One rivals Hartley Wintney at The Cricket Green.

Teenager George Watts (2-27) returned tidy figures as Hartley Wintney made the most of home advantage on their picturesque ground to rack up 260 for five.

Beck (95) and Park (71), who added to previous undefeated scores of 93 and 117 this season, steered New Milton to 196 for two before they started to lose wickets at regular intervals.

However, important contributions from brothers Joe Prodomo (20) and Tom Prodomo (15), coupled with 27 wides, saw them home at 261 for eight with three balls to spare.