CHALKE VALLEY 134-9 (6pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 135-7 (19pts) by 3 wickets

JUST two more points will see Charlton Down promoted to County Division Four after they overcame Chalke Valley.

A superb bowling display and debut half-century from Roger Frapwell sealed a tense three-wicket win.

The visitors’ decision to bowl turned out to be a good call as Matt and Dan Stevens showed great control.

Matt (1-15) produced a terrific seven-over spell, including three maidens and some unplayable deliveries.

He struck first by taking a brilliant one-handed return catch to remove big-hitting Harry Hitchings for 13 with the score on 16.

Brother Dan (2-29) then delivered an array of swing bowling and finally tempted Valley captain Andy Mercer to tickle a low dipping catch to Rob Deadman behind the stumps.

Kev Monoghan (32) and Steve Warrack (13) batted patiently, with the former dispatching any ball slightly short or wide to the boundary.

A change to spin brought immediate results as Kim Park bowled Monoghan round his legs and a quicker delivery trapped Warrack in front with the score on 74-4 at the drinks interval.

A further change saw Nick Voss (3-5) and Charlton Down captain Pete Tucker (1-15) cause a middle order collapse as Chalke Valley fell from 99-4 to 106-7.

Voss’ pace and bounce dismissed Dave Brown for 20 with a ball that nipped back off the seam, while Chalke’s Matt Clements chipped a lifting ball into the grateful hands of Tucker for 26.

Tucker then had Nick Hall caught on the extra cover boundary for a duck.

The returning Dan Stevens had Jason Bundy brilliantly caught by the diving Jae Miller at mid-on and Park took a simple catch at cover off Voss to remove Tom Golden.

Some defiant batting by Dave White and Pete Cooper meant the home side posted 134-9.

A debut half-century from Frapwell (57) and his 63-run partnership with Matt Stevens (27) was the key to the successful run chase which saw Charlton Down home in the penultimate over.

Frapwell pounced on any ball over-pitched, driving to the cover boundary with style, and he showed the art of the pull shot as several deliveries raced to the square leg boundary.

Captain Tucker said: “It was brilliant to see the young lads, helped out by some senior heads, step up and produce an excellent display against a very good team.”