IT HAS been a year or two in the making but South Wilts have at last been able to sign 20-year old Indian left-arm spin talent Aaryan Sen, from Mumbai.

And what an impression he made, taking five Lymington wickets on his ECB Southern Premier League debut for South Wilts, barely 48 hours after touching down at London Heathrow.

He took a wicket with his second ball and went on to clean bowl four of his five victims, finishing with 5-33 as Lymington were dismissed for 153 – a target South Wilts breezed past, with Tom Morton hitting 94 not out in a nine-wicket win.

It was Morton who arranged for the Mumbai university student to spend the summer in Salisbury, the club having kept the deal firmly under wraps until he physically arrived.

Morton was director of cricket at the Middlesex Premier League club Ealing when Sen came across to London on his school holidays.

“He was only 15 or so at the time, but a prodigious talent. He’d train at Ealing during the day and played a few games for the club,” Morton explained.

“We kept in touch as he wanted to come and spend a summer in England once he’d finished school, but the pandemic put a hold on all that as India was on the government’s travel red list.

“South Wilts have a powerful seam attack, but needed a spinner, so Sen coming to us was the perfect fix.”

Lymington made a sound enough start after being put into bat at the town’s Sports Ground, but lost both openers at 37 (Ben Rogers 24) leaving Grayshott-based Ali Wheble (27) to glue the top order together.

He and James Hartshorn took Lymington to 97-3 when Sen struck with only his second ball, bowling the New Zealander and then on 125 having Wheble caught by Peter Rowe.

The Mumbai spin magician was too good for a weak Lymington side – they were without Northants all-rounder Gareth Berg, the injured Ryan Scott and the in-form Conor Moors from the previous week’s tie at Bashley.

Dan Cox (23) was left high and dry, while Lymington benefitted from 38 extras, 27 of them wides, principally sent down by left-armers Josh Croom (3-10) and Tom Grant.

“Sen bowled really nicely,” enthused South Wilts skipper and wicketkeeper Ben Draper.

“An attacking left arm spinner is exactly what we are after and he is definitely that.

“He bowled straight, spinning it away from the right- hander. It was lovely to hear the fizz out of his hand.

“He will be a great asset for South Wilts this summer complementing our seam attack. He’s a handy bat too, but didn’t get a chance to show off his skills against Lymington.”

Morton and Jack Stearman saw to that – it took South Wilts 26 overs to polish off the target, Morton hitting 17 fours in his 94 not out.

Left-hander Stearman (32) batted with more intent than against St Cross Symondians, but with Morton in full cry at the other end, he was not under the same pressure as a week earlier.

An emphatic eight-wicket win over West of England Premier League side Lansdown completed a successful mid-May weekend for South Wilts, who host Hook & Newnham Basics at Bemerton on Saturday.

With Grant taking 4-35, Croom 3-7 and Matt Burton 2-22, Lansdown were rushed out for 88.

With rain threatening, Arthur Godsal smacked an unbeaten 43, while Sen showed his forte with four boundaries in making 23. It was done and dusted inside 13 overs.

Meanwhile, teenage left-hander Matt Falconer celebrated his maiden competitive century as South Wilts seconds pulled off a potentially important 27-run win over Gosport Borough at Bemerton.

After the previous week’s 280-run mauling at Langley Manor, it was essential Rob Pittman’s side got an early Premier Division Three win under their belts - and Falconer’s hundred ensured they did just that.

The 16-year old struck an unbeaten 108, including 10 boundaries, and shared an 86-run stand with Henry Smith (34) as South Wilts built a strong platform.

Another useful 48-run partnership with Owain Phillips (21) plus handy contributions from the Pitman brothers pointed South Wilts to 229-5.

Nick Partridge (3-43) struck two early blows to put Gosport Borough firmly on the back foot.

Viv Richards (64) kept Gosport in the picture, but his dismissal at 144-6 - caught by Falconer - effectively ended any hopes they had.

Greg Kitchin (33) and Scott Taylor (26 not out) got additional batting bonus points on the board before the visitors closed at 202-9.