CAPTAIN Martin Miller was delighted to see Bournemouth hold table-toppers South Wilts to a draw – even if it took some help from a hedge.

Lions left Wilton Road with 10 points as Miller’s backmarkers pulled off a shock to become the first team to deny the league leaders victory in the timed format this season.

While veteran Matt Mixer (4-104) marked his return with a strong wicket haul alongside another century for Aussie opener Alex Keath (123), the skipper pointed to a chance change in fortunes at lunch.

Bournemouth’s tormentor in chief James Hayward (115) had just grabbed a ton with the hosts scoring for fun before the ball got lost in the Skew Bridge shrubbery.

And after lunch, Miller’s men made some headway with the new ball to stifle the South Wilts juggernaut and hold the home side to 320 for nine.

While the winning line was never likely to be in sight for the visitors, Ryan Scott (35) helped the strugglers stand firm in response.

But it was the rugged resistance of tail-enders Curtis Watton (7), Tom Wainwright (9) and Anschuman Singh (11*) that eventually saw Bournemouth’s overs out after a middle-order wobble to grab an unlikely draw.

Miller told the Daily Echo: “We were staring down the barrel at lunch so the lads did well and I’m happy to take 10 points and a losing draw against a top-of-the-table side.

“Bizarrely, it was the change of ball that proved the turning point. The replacement was a lot softer and they found it difficult to score.

“We slowed them down and managed to take a few wickets.

“We were looking at chasing a total of 350-plus before that because the boys had wilted in the heat and we didn’t field par-ticularly well. I think we dropped about five catches in total.

“It was always going to be an uphill task, but Curtis, Tom and Anschuman all batted out of their skins and resisted everything South Wilts could throw at them towards the end. The tenacity and determination they showed was fantastic.”

The result saw Bournemouth make up more ground on second-bottom St Cross Symondians as Miller’s men look to defy the odds and stay up after their disastrous start to the season.

The bottom two are cast away and seem set to battle it out to avoid the solitary relegation spot, but Miller maintains his side’s task will be tough.

On rivals St Cross, Miller added: “They have got resources we can only dream of and are a very good side on paper. I am surprised at where they are and they are probably just not performing as a team yet.

“They are able to call on Hampshire’s captain and we do not have that luxury, but one win puts us within striking distance and the boys will keep on fighting.”