DAN Conway hit a boundary off the second ball of the final over to give Bournemouth a dramatic two-wicket win over Lymington, writes Mike Vimpany.

Victory kept alive their hopes of a place in the grand final of the Southern Premier League Cup.

But the real hero was Adam Davies, who hit a superb 80 not out as Bournemouth clawed back from an improbable 86 for six to overhaul Lymington’s 187 for seven just in the nick of time.

Davies, who hit a six and eight fours in his critical 114-ball sojourn at the crease, glued the Bournemouth innings together after teenage spinner Dan Bailey, ‘on loan’ for the summer from nearby Sway, had reduced Lions to 42 for four with an eight-over spell of four for 11.

Bournemouth tumbled into subsequent and deeper trouble before Davies – who previously played Sussex Premier League cricket – eventually found a reliable partner in Rob Pack.

Pack, in typical style, took the attack to Lymington, whose young inexperienced attack conceded the initiative as the left-arm spin all-rounder grilled a run-a-ball 37, which included two big sixes.

The pair had almost doubled the Bournemouth total before Pack holed out to the influential Bailey at 163 for seven.

Bournemouth still needed another 25 to win but, while Davies remained resolute, Jake Hurley smacked a six in his quickfire 10, only to be caught off the first ball of Josh Royan’s decisive final over.

Seamer Conway, head coach at Clayesmore School, did not mess about and heaved Royan’s next ball to the mid-wicket boundary to clinch a thrilling victory.

Bournemouth, who have four wins out of five this season, remain second in the West Division table, four points behind Bashley, who they play in their final qualifying match at the BCG on September 12.

Lions host New Milton at Chapel Gate this Saturday, while Bashley face a far sterner test at South Wilts.