ABBOTSBURY 278-4 (20pts) beat SHILLINGSTONE SECONDS 215 (7pts) by 63 runs

ABBOTSBURY emerged triumphant against Shillingstone in a match that pitted third against fourth in County Division Four.

The Swans had not experienced much success at this ground in recent years and were determined to make amends.

Having elected to bat first, the Abbotsbury openers faced some testing swing bowling, with bowler Scott in particular regularly beating the outside edge and eventually removing Aaron Oliver (8) with an edge behind.

Swans’ skipper Simon Pengelly remained resolute at the other end and was able to keep the scoreboard moving along with some crisp strokes to find the boundary.

Pengelly was joined at the crease by Steve Budd and the pair added a further 109 runs during a 20 over partnership. Both batsmen then fell in consecutive overs as they attempted to increase the run rate – Budd was caught off the bowling of Webber (2-66) for 35 and Pengelly succumbed to the bowling of Walters (1-38) for 80.

A further Abbotsbury wicket fell as Simon Allen was dismissed cheaply for just one, but this brought Chas Duerdoth and Chris Backhouse together at the crease.

In the final six overs the pair cut loose with some impressive hitting, adding 119 runs at almost 20 runs per over to take the final score to an impressive 278-4.

Duerdoth hit eight sixes in his innings of 68 not out, while Backhouse cleared the ropes twice during his rapid and unbeaten 52.

In reply, Shillingstone started their innings well, taking the score to 52 without loss from the first eight overs.

Abbotsbury bowler Grafton Straker (1-45) then made the breakthrough, dismissing Walters for 17.

However, Shillingstone continued to score at the required rate as Abbotsbury missed a number of chances to break the partnership.

In the last over of his spell, Duerdoth (1-22) took the wicket of Savage (26) and shortly after, Backhouse, with the assistance of a fine catch from Jay Lintern, dismissed Shillingstone opener Andrews for 82.

The door was now open for Backhouse (6-42) and Oliver (2-34) to dismiss the remaining Shillingstone batsmen for 215, giving Abbotsbury a valuable 63-run victory.

On Saturday, Abbotsbury take on leaders Sherborne Seconds.

  • Abbotsbury Cricket Club are sponsored by Bride Valley Motors.