Clymping spin it to win it against Southwater

Missing three front-line bowlers, in Gary Tester, James Salisbury and George Gaskin, it was spinners Rob Fauvell and Chris Hanks, who ripped through the Southwater order.

After backing his side to chase and sticking in Southwater, their duo of Bryan Streeter and Johann Brouwer looked to be settled in the middle, before fine spells from Fauvel (4-35) and Hanks (4-49) triggered a collapse as they demolished the visitors’ order.

Having been 65-2 when Streeter (21) was dismissed, Brouwer (59) fell at 93-3, and only Sam Riggs (23) added significant runs as they finished on 158 all out after 41.4 overs.

In their response, Graham Merritt-Blann’s 73 laid the foundations as Clymping raced home with 150-4 in 32.5 overs to earn 30 points and lift them to third in the table.

Green said: “ As I have this season, I backed us to chase and we stuck to that, so we put them in.

“We started well and got a wicket with the third ball of the game. But after that their opener and Johann put on a good partnership.

“But our spinners Rob and Chris came on and changed the game. They caused havoc, especially Rob who was bowling out of his skin.

“They got a couple of quick wickets and led to a collapse. They really changed things and Southwater never recovered.”

In reply, Merritt-Blann led the way, and although wickets initially fell around him, a third-wicket stand of 84 with Gareth Challen (28) led them to 129-3 needing just 30 to win.

With Challen dismissed, Merritt-Blann followed six runs later, but Green (10*) and Sam Orchard (14*) saw them home with 160-4.

Green added: “We were pretty confident we could chase it down, and Graham and Gareth’s partnership took the wind out of their sails and made a platform for us.”

On their season so far, Green added: “We were pretty dire against Eagles last week, so there are no complaints about that.

“It’s an old cliché, but we’re taking one game at a time, as I said, getting the same side out each week is proving difficult.

“I certainly can’t complain with the start we have had, though, it’s been great.”