Schoultz shines after ex-Hants all-rounder’s quick fifty

South African overseas signing Nathan Schoultz struck a Southern Premier League best 90 as Burridge claimed a winning draw against Lymington.

Batting at No 5, the 19-yearold wicket-keeper/batter struck 11 fours and three sixes off 78 balls to change the complexion of the top flight fixture.

Replying to Lymington’s 249 all out off 59 overs, Burridge were in trouble on 44-4. But Schoultz - who plays for Cape Town in his home country and represented Western Province at junior levels - was the dominant partner in a 107run stand for the fifth wicket.

Chris Blake (31) was Schoultz’s first partner, until he retired hurt, and Will Donald (25) was the second.

Schoultz departed to an inauspicious shot as the ball ballooned to keeper Alistair Wheble. But with the return of Blake and the arrival of Dan Stancliffe (29 not out), momentum was maintained with Burridge ahead of their run rate.

Burridge closed on 222-8 off 51 overs and, due to their superior run rate, took 16 points to Lymington’s 11 and moved off the bottom of the table as a result.

Losing the toss for the fifth game running, Lymington had got off to a good start before rain held up play for 30 minutes.

Kamran Dhariwal (31) and Ben Rogers (29) put on 58 for the first wicket before

Wheble (40), and Josh Royan (52) added 75 for the third wicket.

Wheble then added another 72 for the fifth wicket with ex-Hampshire all-rounder Gareth Berg still a regular in the County Championship for Northants at the age of 41 - belting a breezy 50 before the last six wickets fell for only 35 runs.