SKIPPER Martin Miller was left to rue fine margins of defeat after Bournemouth succumbed to New Milton despite a brave fightback.

Bournemouth restricted their visitors to 177 for nine at Chapel Gate as Ben Lawes (51*) and Nick Park (49) top-scored for the Green and Golds.

However, Lions' disastrous start to their reply saw them in deep water at 27 for five.

Manful efforts from Mike Kitson (61) and Dave Kidner (45*) kept Miller's men in the game but they eventually fell to a nine-run loss.

Dan Loader proved Bournemouth's tormentor-in-chief, hitting an unbeaten 20 off seven deliveries before claiming three for 26 with the ball.

Miller told the Daily Echo: "After they had finished on 186, I was relatively happy, although I could have done without the last over, which went for about 20.

"I thought that in general we bowled well, it was just that last over. The game was so tight that you can't put your finger on one defining aspect but that clearly would be one of the areas we would look back on.

"It was largely Dan Loader that reduced us to 27 for five and we were thinking it was game over but Mike Kitson batted brilliantly and when he got to 50, we were very much in the game.

"We bat all the way down and to finish only nine runs short showed that, on a day where we didn't really get any contributions from the top five.

"We dropped two catches, bowled a few too many wides and if every batsman had got one more run, we would have won the game. It's fine margins and that's the difference between winning and losing.

"The pleasing thing is that at 27 for five, we didn't throw in the towel. To take it all the way was an excellent achievement, albeit it wasn't the result we wanted."

New Milton captain James Park admitted Loader's contribution had been hugely significant in a clash that had gone right to the wire.

Park said: "Dan Loader only faced seven balls and he hit two big sixes and a four, and with his new-ball spell he basically won us the game.

"It's not the first time he's done it for us and it's always good to have that down the order.

"After we had them at 27 for five, I thought we were home and hosed but they had a couple of batsmen who stuck in and played well.

"Halfway through their innings at drinks, I think they were on around 90 for six and it could have gone either way.

"We gave them a couple of chances but, thankfully, we held on and got over the line. It was a big win for us."