ABBOTSBURY 169-7 beat PARLEY II 139 by 30 runs

ABBOTSBURY booked a spot in the semi-finals of the T20 Trophy with an excellent 30-run win against Parley Seconds.

Swans’ skipper Simon Pengelly called the toss correctly and opted to bat first with Kynan Brian and Steve Budd providing a juxtaposition of youth and experience at the top of the order.

However, it was to be the veteran who would quickly depart, Budd (1) being trapped lbw by Oliver Sinha (2-26) in the second over.

This brought the in-form Pengelly to the middle and with Brian in similarly good nick the pair pushed the score past 50 before Brian tried hitting the ball out of the park but instead lost his middle stump.

The scoring rate was not quelled however, with Chas Duerdoth soon finding his rhythm and punishing a youthful Parley attack.

Pengelly (60) completed a fine half-century which included 10 boundaries before being stumped off the bowling of Andy Symes (1-37).

Lloyd Beals added a quickfire 23 which included an enormous six over mid-wicket and Duerdoth (53) remained unbeaten as the Swans posted a highly satisfactory 169 for Parley to chase.

With Beals (0-18) looking sharp in attack the Parley openers had to rely on the occasional loose delivery from Pengelly’s off-spin to keep the scoring rate ticking over but it was the introduction of Elliott Gunn that swung the match sharply in Abbotsbury’s favour.

The bearded medium pacer removed Ben Blackford (6) in his first over, aided by Steve Budd’s tumbling catch, and in the next tempted Parley skipper Matt King (10) into a pull shot that picked out Brian on the boundary.

Opener Marco Amat (22) departed caught and bowled the very next ball and Gunn picked up his fourth wicket when Dharmesh Mistry (12) offered a catch to Pengelly lurking at cover.

Parley then slumped to 63-5 when paceman Duerdoth (3-18) joined the action and immediately removed Bo Powell (4), keeper David Worsdell collecting the edge behind.

The new batsmen were unable to maintain the required scoring rate in the face of accurate bowling from Duerdoth and mercurial spinner Pankaj Nikale (0-23).

Pengelly handed the ball to occasional leg-spinner Nick Kneebone (2-13) for the final over which resulted in a mopping up of the tail as a run out and two wickets sealed the victory by 30 runs.

In tomorrow’s semi-final, Abbotsbury visit Poole Town B.