SKIPPER Ali Jaffer saw Lymington finally break their Totton & Eling jinx and then hailed the exploits of pacemen Dave Kidner and Matt Metcalfe.
Lymington avenged two of the heaviest defeats in Southern Premier League history when they recorded a convincing 132-run victory at the Linden Oval.
It was their first win in the top flight against Totton & Eling and helped erase the memory of conceding 360 and 359 in their two previous visits to the venue in 2011 and 2010.
All-rounder Metcalfe starred with the bat for Lymington before joining his former Dorset team-mate Kidner in bowling them to the verge of victory.
Metcalfe’s undefeated 56 helped Lymington post a modest 223 for nine with Cameron Grierson (34) and Scott Henry (33) putting on 54 for the second wicket.
The hosts were on the back foot from the off with left-arm seamer Kidner removing openers Darron Augustus and Tom Beresford with just 25 on the board.
And after Metcalfe had got rid of dangerman Jimmy Taylor, Kidner snared William Bosisto, James Haggaty and Adam Carty to leave Totton & Eling reeling at 42 for six.
Kidner (5-21) and Metcalfe (1-22) both returned impressive figures from their 10 overs before Ed Freeman (2-23) came on to finish off Totton & Eling for 91.
Jaffer told the Daily Echo: “It was the best 20 overs of bowling I had seen in club cricket for a very long time and they both showed what they could do with the ball.
“They got out some good players and the wickets of Bosisto and Taylor were key. It was a great spell up front and they made it very difficult for the batsmen.
“The pitch was doing a bit as well so it was tough but they made it even harder.
“They were moving the ball both ways and used their experience and skill to bowl us to the brink of victory.”
The win, which followed a narrow one-wicket defeat at the hands of Ventnor, saw Lymington claim pole position in the embryonic Premier Division table.
Jaffer added: “We were disappointed to lose against Ventnor because we played some good cricket and our bowlers did extremely well. They again came to the party against Totton & Eling.
“I wasn’t aware of our poor record against them and there were certainly no scars! It wasn’t even discussed before the game and the guys just got on with their jobs.
“The start of the season has gone well. Sometimes, losing a game does help put things in perspective and the loss against Ventnor was important for us. We want to look to build on our good start and will keep our feet on the ground.”
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