HAMWORTHY RECREATION II 208-6 (8) lost to ABBOTSBURY 292-6 (18) by 84 runs

A SUBLIME innings of 156 from Abbotsbury all-rounder Chas Duerdoth ensured the Swans kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a win over Hamworthy Recreation Seconds.

After losing the toss, Abbotsbury’s batsmen made a nervy start as Hamworthy’s opening bowlers, Matt Gordon and Nathan Peters, got to work.

Peters bowled a testing line and length and, aided by some swing, he made a double breakthrough in the fourth over, bowling Aaron Oliver (3) without a shot being played and then trapping Steve Budd lbw two balls later.

Abbotsbury were now on the back foot and opening batsman Simon Pengelly set about ensuring further wickets did not fall.

Peters continued to test the Swans' batsmen and a further two wickets fell, leaving Abbotsbury in the perilous position of 34-4 off 10 overs.

Batting at six, Duerdoth led the counter-attack and didn’t let the Hamworthy bowlers settle, picking off some wayward deliveries to find the boundary rope and taking his side to 156-4.

By this point, Duerdoth had passed 50 and was looking settled at the crease. With 10 overs to go the Abbotsbury batsmen released the shackles and attacked the Hamworthy bowlers.

Duerdoth hit some impressive blows, repeatedly clearing the boundary ropes to bring up his third century of the season before rapidly taking his score past 150.

When he was eventually dismissed, Duerdoth had almost single-handily demolished the Hamworthy attack, striking 13 sixes in all.

There was no let up for the Hamworthy attack as Pengelly was first joined by Chris Backhouse who struck a quick-fire 21, including three sixes, and then Simon Allen joined the party, striking two maximums in an unbeaten 22 to help the Swans finish on 292-6.

Skipper Pengelly carried his bat and remained unbeaten on 52.

Duerdoth then set to work with the ball and he ripped out the heart of the Hamworthy middle order in reply, claiming figures of 3-32.

Sensing that the run chase was beyond them with the score at 108-4 from 20 overs, the Hamworthy batsmen appeared content to just defend in an attempt to pick up extra batting points.

Progress was slow and only two further wickets fell as Eddie Wilson remained resolute throughout, scoring 72 not out as Hamworthy reached 208-6 in reply, some 84 runs short.

Bride Valley Motors man of the match: Chas Duerdoth