ABBOTSBURY 135 (3pts) lost to SHAFTESBURY 136-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

ABBOTSBURY’S winning streak came to an abrupt end as they were well beaten at home by an impressive Shaftesbury side in County Division Four.

Simon Pengelly (1) opened the batting with Robin Potter (11) after a successful coin toss but his tenure at the crease was brief as Terrence Langhorne (1-19) found the edge of the skipper’s bat to be caught behind.

Shaftesbury’s opening bowling attack of Langhorne and Marnes Gouws (1-12) was proving formidable on a track offering extra bounce.

Nick Kneebone’s uncomfortable stay at the crease was ended on six runs when he offered a thin edge to the wicketkeeper off Gouws.

This left the Swans at 8-2 but Kynan Brian (26) stopped the rot with some excellent attacking shots before his promising innings was cut short by Mark Lewis (2-15).

Potter’s stoic effort was also ended by Lewis shortly afterwards which brought Chas Duerdoth (25) to the middle to partner Ashley Harrow (18).

Duerdoth hit a flurry of boundaries but hopes of a big innings were dashed by another edge to the wicketkeeper, this time off the bowling of Chris Pym (1-42).

Chris Backhouse (21) smashed a straight six off Bryant but the bowler had the last laugh when a top edge looped off Backhouse’s bat to give Gouws an easy catch at cover.

Richie Bryant (5-29) produced some loose deliveries at the start of his spell but ended up with a fifer as he ran through the lower order, the last five Abbotsbury wickets falling for just 15 runs to see the Swans post a modest total of 135 all out.

In reply, Chas Duerdoth’s opening over suggested that the Shaftesbury batsmen would also struggle as the ball continued to pop up off the surface.

Catching chances were spurned however and some big shots yielded 13 off Grafton Straker’s second over before the veteran seamer hit back to claim the wicket of Lawrence Yeo (17), Ashley Harrow grabbing the slip catch.

The pitch seemed to settle down as the innings progressed, with both Aled Williams (57no) and Bryant (8no) showing assurance to frustrate the Abbotsbury attack.

Williams did offer a late chance that was uncharacteristically spilled by Backhouse on the long-off boundary but Shaftesbury cantered home with 19 overs to spare for an easy victory.

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