SKIPPER Martin Miller admits Bournemouth’s opening-day disaster against Hook & Newnham Basics still gives him sleepless nights.

Lions failed to pick up a single point as they were defeated by nine wickets in the Southern Premier League clash at the beginning of May.

The teams are set to renew rivalries tomorrow (1pm) with Miller hopeful that his team can improve on their showing at Chapel Gate two months ago.

However, the captain admits it will be tough against the Division One leaders given the absences of David Kidner, Alan Badenhorst, Jake Hurley and Pete Smith.

Miller told the Daily Echo: “I still have nightmares about the first game of the season. I can’t remember playing in another game where we didn’t get any points at all.

“Fair play to Hook, they have maintained their position at the top of the table so looking back on that, it set them on the road and they have done well all season. It wasn’t a one-off, which makes me feel better.

“We go into this weekend’s game knowing we are not at full strength. Don’t get me wrong, the players we have are good but when you are playing top-of-the-table sides you want to have a full complement available. We just don’t have that so we will do what we can.

“We were very close to beating New Milton last week and we’ve beaten Basingstoke so we can produce against the top teams.

“I’m not going into it thinking we can’t win. We have match winners in our side and if they perform, we will be fine.”

Bournemouth’s nine-run defeat to New Milton left their title hopes hanging by a thread and Miller admits his team require favours from elsewhere.

He added: “The league title is not in our hands any more and it would be a bit of a shock if we were to be up there. We need teams above us to beat each other.

“We have nine games left and the sides below us have all given us difficult games this year. We have to keep playing good cricket and the league table will take care of itself.”

Elsewhere in Division One, title chasers New Milton host basement side Calmore Sports at Fernhill (1pm).

  • Bashley entertain Burridge in the Premier Division (11.30am), while Lymington have made three changes to the side that suffered a four-wicket defeat to Ventnor.

Lewis McManus, Felix Ambrose and Cameron Robertson are all due to come in for the home clash with St Cross Symondians (11.30am). Set to make way are Cameron Grierson, Edward Freeman and Josh Goodchild.

Lymo: Rogers, Hand, Scott, McManus, Ambrose, Ellis, Beetham, Metcalfe, Ashkenazi, Jennings, Robertson.