SKIPPER Ryan Beck bemoaned a lack of cutting edge after New Milton had slipped to a 25-run defeat at Burridge.

The margins were small for the Fernhill outfit but a 77-run partnership between Richard Kenway (85*) and Jamie Rood (32) set Beck’s men a target of 202 for nine, which proved a bridge too far once the visitors had lost four wickets for four runs at the top of the order.

Openers Nick Park (23) and skipper Beck (23) racked up 45 but, once the captain had been trapped leg before by Azimunnoor Chowdhury, Milton quickly capitulated with Geoff Dods taking four wickets inside four overs.

Dods saw off both Park brothers – including James for a duck – and Mark House (1) for three runs before Dan Loader was dismissed without scoring.

Lee Beck (47) fought strongly and an impressive 42-run stand between tail-enders George Watts (9) and Nick Gargaro (55*) gave the visitors hope, but Beck’s boys fell just short.

Beck told the Daily Echo: “It was a horrible day and we just couldn’t put the game to bed in some tough conditions.

“We went from nearly 40-odd without loss to 49 for four and we were on a hiding to nothing from there.

“The middle order dug in again but there is no cutting edge at the moment. In the field, we can’t seem to stop teams putting together that one good partnership and destroying us.”