DORSET trio Matt Metcalfe, Nick Park and Simon Watkins all came to the party as Bournemouth maintained pole position in Division One with a four-wicket win over Lymington.

Paceman Metcalfe (5-66) ripped through the top order as Lymington struggled to 162 for nine with skipper Morgan Rushbrook (58) leading from the front as the hosts’ batting frailties were again exposed.

Metcalfe removed opener Tommy Barton (37) and Aussie Nic McMurray (25), although Lymington’s cause was not helped when Dorset’s Glyn Treagus was victim of a debatable leg before decision after planting his front foot well down the track to a Scott Barlow delivery.

Lymington were eventually dismissed for 210 thanks to a gutsy last-wicket partnership of 48 between Simon King (44) and teenager Josh Thacker (Watkins 2-57).

Although Rushbrook (2-59) and Simon Beetham (3-77) had Bournemouth in a spot of bother at 15 for three and then 50 for four, Watkins (56) and Chris Cooke (33) steadied the ship with a stand of 63.

And after Cooke and Watkins had both perished to fine catches from Cameron Grierson and Thacker, respectively, it was left to Nick Park (60) and Craig de Weymarn, who finished undefeated on 39, to steer Bournemouth to the brink of victory with a stand of 89.

• Neil Thurgood and Richard Morris both registered half-centuries in Bashley’s stalemate with draw specialists South Wilts at Bashley Road.

Matt King (4-66) and Max Waller (3-96) both made contributions with the ball as South Wilts as good as batted Bashley into submission by piling up 304 for eight.

And it was no surprise to see the hosts stand firm to maintain their unbeaten time pennant record thanks largely to Thurgood (55), Morris (51) and Nick Baker (39).

• Division Two leaders New Milton suffered their first defeat of the season – by 46 runs to Andover at London Road.

Chasing Andover’s 243 for eight, New Milton slumped to 40 for six before they were stopped at 197 for nine with Lee Beck (69) and Nick Gargaro (39) keeping them in the hunt.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth were on the receiving end of a 98-run defeat at the hands of high-flying Hook & Newnham Basics.

Lynton Stanniford (3-50) was among the wickets for Bournemouth, although Hook’s imposing 272 for seven was always going to test the Chapel Gate outfit. And so it proved despite the best efforts of Chris Cahill (47) and Chris Ridley (30) as they were dismissed for 174.

• To cap a miserable weekend for New Milton, they were thumped by 143 runs by Bashley in the second round of the Southern Premier Twenty20 Cup yesterday. However, Bournemouth chased down South Wilts’ 219 for four to win by four wickets.