ABBOTSBURY 212-5 (18pts) beat POOLE THIRDS 122-7 (4pts) by 90 runs

ABBOTSBURY fell agonisingly short of promotion despite a comprehensive defeat of Poole Thirds in the final match of the season in County Division Four.

The Swans started the contest knowing that only a victory with maximum bonus points would be enough to guarantee second place and promotion.

After being put into bat by home skipper Ben Pocknell, Abbotsbury soon lost opener Simon Pengelly (3) when he played round a Kirt Holland (1-52) straight ball.

However, off spinner Winwood tempted Nick Wardlaw (15) out of his crease to be stumped which brought Nick Kneebone to the middle to partner Ashley Harrow.

Poole brought medium pacer Chakeam Beagley (1-32) into the attack which resulted in the scalp of Harrow (21), leaving the Swans at 60-3 in the 16th over.

Conscious that 175 were needed for maximum batting points, Kneebone and Aaron Oliver batted cautiously though Oliver in particular kept the scoreboard ticking over by attacking anything pitched up.

After a tentative start, Kneebone also found some form and the pair were able to progress the score to 150 before Oliver (37) lost his leg stump to a Luke Hall (1-32) ball.

Stuart Gill (1) quickly followed, but the incoming Simon Pittman (32no) joined Kneebone (74no) for an unbroken partnership of 59 as Abbotsbury easily surpassed the initial target to finish on 212-5.

Abbotsbury’s chances of bowling out the opposition was blunted somewhat by unavailability but The evergreen Grafton Straker (1-19) struck an early blow by having Mour (4) caught behind, though the Poole batsmen showed little interest in playing any attacking shots.

Skipper Pengelly shuffled his bowling options with the occasional leg spin of Kneebone (1-29) in the hope of forcing a dismissal which was rewarded when Pocknell (20) was bowled.

Oliver (3-15) then struck twice in the space of three balls and Ben Lucas (2-14) removed Holland for a duck as the home team slipped to 49-5 in the 19th overbut Poole continued in their defensive shell as Abbotsbury strived for a further breakthrough.

A couple of difficult catching chances were spurned and it was not until the 36th over that the seventh wicket fell, Daniel Winwood (19) chipping Lucas to mid-wicket.

However, that proved to be the final success for the frustrated Swans as Poole blocked out the remainder of the innings in closed on 122-7, a result which cemented the hosts’ relegation from Division Four.

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