CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 111 (5pts) lost to ABBOTSBURY 113-5 (22pts) by five wickets

ABBOTSBURY’S resurgent form continued as the Swans secured a fourth win on the trot in County Division Three.

Abbotsbury had to field first on another hot afternoon played at the home team’s Symondsbury ground and it looked like it could be a long one after opening batters Sam Challis (15) and Reuben Kingston (7) plundered 23 runs from the first two overs.

However, the arrival of paceman Chas Duerdoth (5-33) into the attack, who was late to take to the field due to having been delayed by heavy traffic around Bridport, completely changed the course of the game as the fiery paceman blasted through Cattistock & Symene’s top order.

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The first wicket came courtesy of a great catch by Elliot Gunn at mid-off, who initially spilled Challis’s powerful drive but managed to cling on at the third attempt while sprawled on the ground.

By the sixth over, the home team were reduced to 24-4 after Duerdoth had bowled Kingston and Mark Tozer (0) with off-spinner Simon Pengelly (3-51) pitching in with the wicket of Wilkinson (0), also clean bowled.

There was no let up for the home side as two further wickets fell before the total had reached 50 but amongst the carnage Harry Angel (56) was relatively untroubled in hitting nine boundaries as he posted a half-century.

In contrast, there was little resistance from the lower order as Kieran McAllister (7) picked out Harry Testa-Fisher at cover, who made up for an earlier dropped opportunity, and Sean Norsworthy (1-7) had James Boulton (4) caught at slip.

Meanwhile, Angel became Duerdoth’s fifth victim, assisted by another catch from Gunn and these roles were reversed as Duerdoth took the catch off Gunn’s bowling that finished off the innings on 111.

In reply, the Swans lost Pengelly (2) cheaply when he was undone by some extra bounce to feather a catch to the wicketkeeper.

Alex Drew (36) and Nick Kneebone (29) settled any nerves with a serene partnership of 49 which ended when Drew chipped up a catch to point off the bowling of Boulton (3-14).

Abbotsbury lost a third wicket on 92 when Kynan Brian departed for a duck and four runs later Kneebone played on to Boulton.

Despite a further setback when Simon Pittman (2) was caught, Duerdoth (19) wasted no time with three fours and a six to complete the victory and an early finish.

It is now tight at the top of the division with the Swans sitting in third place just seven points behind leaders and next opponents Cerne Valley.