Lympsham defeated Broadway & Horton in a top of the table clash to virtually ensure promotion.

LYMPSHAM travelled to second-placed Broadway & Horton in a top of the table clash, knowing a win would virtually ensure the league title.

Openers Dave Luff and Gary Hutton started well, playing positively and the pair put on 24 before Hutton was caught for 16, shortly followed by Tom Gooding, who was bowled.

Jack Luff joined Luff senior, but Dave was removed just two overs later for 23 and Lympsham were struggling at 43-3 off 11 overs. Gabriel Counsell joined Luff and together they began to rebuild.

The pair pushed the score up to 85 in the 22nd over before Counsell played on for 20, and this brought Rich Ford to the middle. Luff reached his 50 off 74 balls, but was removed three overs later for a well-deserved 55.

Sam Poole shortly followed and this left Ford and Matt Mitchell to get Lympsham to a decent total. The pair managed to get Lympsham up to 182-6, with Ford finishing on an excellent 44 not out.

In reply, Lympsham got off to the best possible start with Luff clean bowling Larkman with the fourth ball of the innings. Positive batting from the Broadway top order pushed the score up to 40 before Luff claimed his second victim.

This was soon followed by three wickets from Liam Morris (3-27) and Lympsham were on top with the score at 68-5. The introduction of Matt Mitchell applied more pressure with three maidens in his first four overs and was supported well by Adam Micklewright at the other end.

Two sharp run outs from Luff junior and Gooding put the game back in the balance at 126-7 off 36 overs. This left Broadway needing just 57 off nine overs, but Lympsham Concrete man of the match Mitchell (2-37) bowled superbly, restricting the Broadway batsmen and picking up two crucial wickets.

With 16 needed off the last over, it was down to skipper Luff (2-29). A run out from Counsell ensured that Lympsham pulled off another thrilling win to see Lympsham remain top of Division 4 by 70 points.

FOR the first time ever, Lympsham seconds hosted Weston fourths in a league game.

Lympsham got off to a flyer with captain for the day Andy Hall (89) and a rare appearance from Jason Parsons (115), blazing the ball to all parts in an opening stand of nearly 200 in 23 overs.

The young Weston attack did not bowl badly. but Hall and Parsons were slightly lucky with a couple of dropped chances and a near run out.

Both eventually got out to leg spinner Terry Horler (3-51) and with Max Gregory adding a quick 19 at the end, captain Hall made a rare decision to declare with the total on 260-4 with nine overs unused, knowing that rain was forecast.

Weston started their reply and ended on 24-1 with Anthony Evans taking a diving catch from Gregory’s bowling to get rid of Skuse. Play was eventually called off after the predicted rain came and the game was abandoned. Lympsham took 23 points to Weston’s 16.