SOUTH Wilts’ ten-match unbeaten run at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier Division is over.

Having won nine of those ten matches and opened up a commanding 30-point lead at the top, South Wilts looked set to stroll a fourth successive title, writes MIKE VIMPANY.

But all that changed in dramatic fashion at Lymington, where they were bowled out for 101 before lunch and resoundingly beaten by nine wickets little more than an hour later.

South Wilts got no points whatsoever from the match, so have had their lead at the top trimmed to seven points with seven games to play.

“It was a disappointing day. Ultimately we didn’t perform well and they certainly did,” reflected a downcast Tom Morton, the South Wilts skipper.

“They’re a dangerous side – two very good opening bowlers and if they get their tails up, particularly Matt Metcalfe, they can be a tough side to play.”

Metcalfe, whose 8-27 return last month led to title rivals Havant being rolled out for 50, was at his best and had Australian Ben Ashkenazi partnering him with pace at the football ground end.

The pair sliced through the normally powerful South Wilts batting unit, who were unable to cope with Metcalfe’s seam movement.

Ashkenazi, who played for Australia in the 2014 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the Emirates, set the ball rolling by forcing Morton to chop the ball into his stumps in his opening over.

Eddie Abel, whose 17 was South Wilts’ top individual score, and Jack Mynott navigated the ensuing overs, but then the visitors lost three wickets for seven runs and were rocking at 39-4.

William Wade (15) steadied the ship, but Metcalfe, bowling unchanged for 21 overs, was always on top and went on to take 5-27 – his 18th ‘five-fer’ in local Premier League cricket.

James Hibberd (13 not out) and Jake Foley (14) were the only other batsmen in double figures before Ashkenazi (4-21) returned to polish off the tail.

The South Wilts’ seamers were unable to get the same amount of help as Ashkenazi and Metcalfe did in the morning session, and Lymington spurted to 80 and effectively had the game won before Dominic Hand (39) was stumped.

Ben Rogers cracked a six and six fours as he scored an unbeaten 50 to end South Wilts’ unbeaten start.

“They rode their luck, which got them off to a good start. When when you’re defending a small total any kind of early partnership is difficult to come back from,” Morton said.