JUBILANT skipper Christian Pain hailed debutant Simon Cook after Lymington had battled back to claim the New Forest bragging rights with victory over Division One rivals Bashley.

The former Australian paceman struck with successive deliveries to remove both Max Waller and Neil Thurgood after Bashley had made a promising start in pursuit of Lymington’s 198 for nine.

But with Cook (3-26) in fine form and evergreen Ed Freeman (3-45) rolling back the years, Lymington ensured Bashley fell 14 runs short as they were shot out for 184.

Pain, who has replaced Adie Hunt as captain of newly-promoted Lymington, told the Daily Echo: “Simon was out of this world and put us right back in the game.

“Bashley were going along nicely until Simon took two wickets in two balls to turn the tide in our favour. Morgan Rushbrook then took the vital wicket of Chris Jones, while Ed bowled superbly to account for Richard Morris. It was a tremendous all-round bowling display.”

Pain must have been wondering what he had let himself in for when Lymington got off to the worst possible start after losing their first three wickets for just one run.

Greg Jones accounted for Bashley old boy Glyn Treagus and new addition James Lucy, while Kevin Nash trapped Ollie Kelly in front as Lymington threatened to implode.

But Morgan Rushbrook and Bryn Derbyshire, both heroes of Lymington’s promotion campaign, dug deep to carve out a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 119.

And with Pain (32) and Cook (17) also adding important runs, Lymington were able to post a challenging total (Greg Jones 2-36, Kevin Nash 2-41, Nick Baker 2-15).

In reply, Richard Morris (56) ensured Bashley remained in the hunt before his demise – caught at mid-off by Treagus off Freeman with the score on 124 – proved another turning point for Lymington.

And although skipper Andy Neal (25) also offered resistance, Bashley just came up short (Freeman 3-45, Cook 3-26, Pain 2-22).

  • All-rounder Simon Watkins made a telling contribution with both bat and ball as Bournemouth got their season off to a winning start against the Hampshire Academy at the Rose Bowl nursery ground.

Watkins (69) showed impressive early-season form and selected his shots intelligently as Bournemouth were dismissed for 205. He shared in a seventh-wicket stand of 48 with Dave Kidner, who finished unbeaten on 24, while Nick Park (30) also chipped in.

Academy prospect Matthew Kleinveldt (84) threatened to spoil Bournemouth’s day as he guided the hosts to 159 for six before Ed Denham pouched him off the bowling of Matt Metcalfe.

And with Watkins (2-48), Metcalfe (3-20) and Denham (3-31) all ensuring runs would be hard to come by, the Academy eventually succumbed for 191, leaving Bournemouth victorious by 14 runs.

  • Nick Gargaro (32) and Dan Loader (31) failed to save New Milton as their Division Two campaign opened with a disappointing 32-run defeat at Havant.

Seth Simmons (63), Reggie Marshall (53 not out) and Pete Hopson (36) laid the foundations for Havant’s imposing 200 for five.

And with Gargaro and Loader the only two New Milton batsmen to seriously trouble the scorers, Steve Matthews (4-24) helped dismiss the visitors for 168.