ABBOTSBURY 194 (20pts) beat CORFE MULLEN 136 (7 pts) by 58 runs

ABBOTSBURY picked up their first victory of the season in County Division Four with a much-improved team performance against Corfe Mullen.

The Swans got off to a terrible start after choosing to bat first as they found themselves three wickets down for only eight runs, the impressive Mike Jordan (4-14) clean bowling Frank Pittman and Kynan Brian, both departing without scoring, while Peter Fosbery (1-27) tempted Simon Pengelly (7) into edging behind.

Chris Backhouse, returning for the Swans after missing the opening matches of the season and Nick Kneebone steadied the Abbotsbury innings and the scoring rate increased after Jordan and Fosbery finished their opening spells.

Backhouse (28) was particularly ruthless on anything loose but a mistimed slog to the off spin of Nigel Stannard (2-32) picked out the fielder at mid on and left Abbotsbury at 46-4 in the 14th over.

This brought the equally attack-minded Chas Duerdoth (68) to the crease and in tandem with the watchful Kneebone (36) the pair built a fruitful partnership worth 98 runs.

Duerdoth hit five maximums in a rapid half century before holing out but the incoming Richard Deakin (26) continued the flow of runs.

John Bolt (1-32) finally dislodged Kneebone but contributions from the Swans' lower order pushed the total on to 194 after 40 overs.

In reply, Chas Duerdoth (3-14) made an early breakthrough, dismissing Peter Phillips (5) and immediately followed up with the wicket of Nigel Stannard (0) for a double wicket maiden.

Duerdoth and off spinner Pengelly (0-29) were able to restrict the Corfe Mullen run rate but when their spells ended the ball started to reach the boundary on a more frequent basis.

Kynan Brian (1-32) produced a beautiful delivery to bowl Mike Weston (16) but Dan Flukes (56) smashed 20 off one Scott Wallace (0-23) over to swing the balance in favour of the away side.

However, the introduction of Chris Backhouse into the Swans' attack brought immediate reward with a wicket in each of his first two overs.

A pumped up Duerdoth returned for a second spell and crucially dismissed Flukes before Backhouse (4-10) and Ashley Harrow (2-22) mopped up the lower order to bowl out Corfe Mullen for 136.