CHARLTON DOWN 167-9 (20pts) beat SHERBORNE II 164ao (11pts) by one wicket

CHARLTON Down recorded back-to-back win with a nail-biting one-wicket success on the penultimate ball of the match against a strong Sherborne Seconds side.

Mark Homewood (30no) guided Down home with an array of shots and patient batting, ably supported by number 11 batsman Joe Taylor (2no) who held his nerve under the pressure.

Sherborne batted first amid light drizzle and opener Adam Smith played beautifully for his 65 including nine boundaries and a six, forging a good partnership with Roger Parfitt (42) after coming together on 70-4.

Charlton Down’s Matt Stevens (5-22) took two quick wickets in his first spell but Sherborne looked set for a very big total as Smith and Parfitt added 75 in just 11 overs.

However the turning point of the innings came when Stevens bowled both Smith and Parfitt, Sherborne losing their last six wickets for just 19 runs ending 164 all out.

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Dan Stevens (2-24) continued his good early season form while Taylor (1-19) took his first wicket for the club.

Charlton Down’s innings started poorly when captain Jack Eveleigh (9) was caught at short square leg.

Roger Frapwell (15) and Matt Stevens looked comfortable before Paul Hancock (3-27) nipped one back to bowl Frapwell with the score on 43-2.

Stevens and Sid Dunford pushed the score to 81 before a clatter of wickets saw Charlton Down collapse from 81-2 to 108-7, including top scorer Matt Stevens for a lovely 32 including five boundaries.

Sherborne’s bowlers were buoyant as they could smell victory with Charlton Down still requiring a further 56 runs but only three wickets remaining.

But it was batting hero Homewood who used his vast experience and patience to guide the tail end to victory.

Valuable partnerships with Javed Gill and Kieran Heath edged the score to 150-9 and within 15 runs of the target.

Stout defence from Taylor and Homewood, who ran smartly between the wickets, left Down needing six from the last over.

Three singles and a wide left Taylor needing two from three balls and he was greeted with a jubilant roar from his teammates as he advanced to the bowler, only to miss the ball and surprise the wicketkeeper who conceded four byes and with it the match.

Victory reinforced the seven-wicket win over Kingston Lacy, meaning Charlton Down top the County Division Three standings after two matches.

Jack Eveleigh’s men visit Abbotsbury on Saturday (1.30pm).