SWANAGE SECONDS 154-8 (6pts) lost to ABBOTSBURY 156-4 (19pts) by six wickets

ABBOTSBURY maintained their push towards the summit of County Division Four with a comfortable six-wicket win over bottom club Swanage Seconds.

The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first on a warm afternoon in Swanage but lost both openers inside eight overs, Grafton Straker (1-24) and Chris Backhouse (2-27) bowling well to earn a wicket apiece.

Scott Orchard (10) looked in good form until Abbotsbury wicketkeeper Ashley Harrow took advantage of a lapse of concentration by stumping the batsman when he failed to return to his crease after being beaten by a Chas Duerdoth snorter.

A half-century partnership followed between Swanage captain Tim Ives (19) and Elliot Baczala (66), which was eventually ended when Ives holed out to Simon Pittman at mid-on off the bowling of Simon Pengelly (1-37).

Wickets then continued to fall at regular intervals, Pete Bustin (1-28) also impressing, but Baczala looked at ease against the Abbotsbury attack in a composed innings which threatened to push the Swanage score on to a more imposing total.

However, Duerdoth (2-31) was bowling with good pace and finally broke through Baczala’s defences with one which kept slightly low.

Abbotsbury were unable to prise out the last two batsman and the innings ended on 154-8 from 40 overs.

In reply, the big-hitting Duerdoth was pushed up the order to open with David Worsdell and the switch proved to be successful as the all-rounder belted eight boundaries in an innings of 34 until a big heave failed to connect with a straight one from Pete Barker (1-31), who upset the timbers.

Nick Kneebone came to the crease and after a shaky start combined well with Worsdell (17) in a partnership that took the score on to 78 when the opener departed caught and bowled to Matt Dunster (1-16).

Simon Pengelly (21) provided some more impetus in an innings which included a big six over square leg and Kynan Bryan (10) also contributed.

Kneebone (42no) remained unbeaten, however, while Backhouse (8) hit the winning runs as the visiting Swans emerged victorious and moved third within 13 points of leaders Sturminster & Hinton.

Simon Pengelly’s men next host sixth-placed Poole Town Thirds at the Abbotsbury Bowl on Saturday (1.30pm), marking the halfway point of the season.

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