Academy's Duggan Breaks Batting Record

Teenage Island run gun Ben Duggan set a new Hampshire Academy batting record when he hit 87 to underpin a 50-run Southern Electric Premier Division victory over Lymington on the The Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground.

It took the left-hander’s run tally for the season to 759 – overtaking the previous best 701 by Matt Kleinveldt set in 2009.

Kleinveldt, who now plays Provincial cricket for the Cape Cobras in South Africa, was qualifying to play for Hampshire at the time, but UK visa regulations effectively halted his stay at the The Ageas Bowl.

Duggan beat Kleinveldt’s seven-year old record during a patient 11-boundary knock which saw the Academy to 236-9.

The Cowes-based teenager – second behind South Wilts skipper Tom Morton (843) in the Premier batting charts – was at the crease for a large chunk of the Academy innings before being seventh out at 188 (Elijah Samuel 27).

Tom Scriven hit an unbeaten 34 late in the innings to take the Academy on to 236-9 (Ed Freeman 3-41).

Lymington were going nicely at 82-2 through Ben Rogers (32) and Ryan Scott (46), but a three-wicket burst by Jake Goodwin (3-24), bowling with an injured toe, effectively ended their prospects of victory.

Lymington dropped to 98-5, rallied through Tomn Atkins (43) and Matt Metcalfe (26), but later fell away to 186 all out, with Dorset Under-17 left-arm spinner Dom Clutterbuck (4-13) wrapping up the tail.

Words: Mike Vimpany