PUDDLETOWN 308-3 (20pts) beat ABBOTSBURY 181 (6pts) by 127 runs

 

ABBOTSBURY suffered a heavy defeat in their opening match of the season away to Puddletown in County Division Four.

 

Swans’ skipper Simon Allen was to have a reduced role in the game after breaking his hand in an evening league game prior to the contest and his first action was to lose the toss to Puddletown counterpart and opening batsman Lucas Allen, who opted to bat first on the artificial surface.

 

Both Lucas Allen and opening partner Tim Orford batted positively from the start but were let off the hook three times in the opening six overs, as catching opportunities were not taken by the Abbotsbury fielders.

 

Grafton Straker (0-50) and Chas Duerdoth (0-52) were the unfortunate bowlers foiled by the missed chances and they were to remain wicketless in the face of some assured batting.

 

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 19th over with the score on 125 when spinner Krish Subramanian (2-37) was brought on, Kynan Brian made up for an earlier drop by taking a fine low catch to dismiss Orford (58).

 

Allen (85) was next to succumb when trying to repeat a straight six off the same bowler, Ashley Harrow safely pouching the catch on the boundary for the Swans.

 

However, Adam Barrett (70) and Adam Weir (67) continued the flow of runs with medium pacer Pete Lawrence (1-75) receiving some punishment in his second spell as the batsmen targeted the short leg-side boundary.

 

Lawrence did finally pick up the wicket of Weir but Abbotsbury were left with an imposing total of 308 to chase.

 

Puddletown pace bowler Weir (2-34) then produced a lively opening spell after the break and got the early breakthrough as a pitched up delivery broke through Simon Pengelly’s defence, as he fell without troubling the scorers.

 

Chas Duerdoth (12) was next to depart with a leading edge off Weir, the catch well taken by Mike Crabb at mid-off.

 

Nick Kneebone and Brian provided some stability with a 74-run partnership but it was clear that the runs target was out of reach, as Abbotsbury settled for gaining batting points.

 

Brian (32) found the boundary five times in his innings before edging a Lucas Allen (3-35) delivery into the slip cordon and Kneebone (33) holed out off the bowling of Tom Arkell (2-22).

 

Wickets subsequently tumbled with only Frank Pittman, with a resolute 36 and Grafton Straker (10no) with a rare foray into double figures providing any resistance.

 

With skipper Allen unable to bat, the Swans were bowled out for 181 but at least acquired maximum batting points.

 

*Abbotsbury CC are sponsored by Bride Valley Motors.