A DISASTROUS pre-lunch session, which saw seven wickets fall – four for 24 runs at one stage – led to Lymington being bowled out for 168 and soundly beaten by South Wilts, who went to the top of the ECB British Gas Southern Premier League in the process.

South Wilts lost four wickets either side of tea as they chased down the target, but a half-century by teenager Will Wade snuffed out any prospect Lymington had of retrieving the situation.

Lymington, now in danger of losing touch at the top, twice shot themselves in the foot with almost comical run outs which led to the demise of Dom Hand and later Richard Lock (25).

Ben Rogers crashed a typically brisk 28 off 23 balls and Ryan Scott made 21.

Matt Burton (2-27) picked off Scott and Ed Ellis as Lymington staggered to lunch at 149 for seven and their innings in disarray.

Hampshire prospect Calvin Dickinson (59) hit nine boundaries in a pre-interval half-century but his dismissal shortly after lunch saw the last three wickets fall for 19 runs, two to the young spinner Jack Richards (2-16).

“We bowled well as a unit, particularly the youngsters, Matt Burton, Jack Richards and Jack Mynott, who didn’t get the wicket return his 11-over spell warranted,” reflected South Wilts skipper James Hayward.

Once Tom Cowley (32) had influenced a half-century start, South Wilts were on their way to a fourth straight win.

Young leg spinner Cam Robertson had a hand in the two wickets Lymington took before tea, but Wade (59) and Hayward, with a punchy 40 (six fours) took a firm hold as the visitors plundered a comfortable six-wicket win.

Meanwhile, little George Metzger made an astonishing debut-making century as the Hampshire Academy thrashed New Milton by 164 runs at Fernhill to avenge an opening day of the season defeat.

Hampshire’s under-15 wicketkeeper Metzger is barely five feet tall and normally plays for Basingstoke & North Hants.

But he grabbed an unexpected opportunity to debut for the Academy in quite sensational style, hitting 12 fours in a maiden 109 and sharing a 159-run third-wicket stand with Felix Organ (84).

Ryan Beck (41) and George Watts (3-54) wheeled away but any faint prospect New Milton had of threatening a daunting 298 ended when Chris Sole (5-35) and Scott Currie (2-1) reduced the hosts to 37 for four.

Only the Beck brothers, Ryan (41) and Lee (26), put up any opposition as the Green & Golds slumped to 134 all out.

Bashley were toppled from the summit after being condemned to a shock 10-wicket defeat by Burridge at the BCG.

Tom Jacques (18) top scored and was one of only four batsmen to reach double figures as they were shot out for just 97.

A day to forget came to a painful end when Dan Hewitt (53) and James Richards (36) set about the Bash attack, the pair clubbing 98 – including 70 in boundaries – from just 12.1 overs.