ABBOTSBURY 207-5 (8pts) lost to SHERBORNE II 208-7 (17pts) by three wickets

ABBOTSBURY’S recent good form came to an end with a narrow three-wicket loss at home to Sherborne Seconds in County Division Three.

After a successful toss, Swans’ skipper David Worsdell opted to bat first under sunny skies which looked a good decision as Nick Kneebone and Ashley Harrow laid a solid platform to the Abbotsbury innings with an opening partnership of 56.

Sherborne eventually broke through when Kneebone (31) mistimed a pull-shot that floated into the hands of Roger Parfitt at mid-off in the 16th over, Andy Pinkawa (1-26) the successful bowler, and Harrow (32) was also caught three overs later as a leading edge ballooned to gully.

Kynan Brian and James Butler were the new batsmen and steadily accumulated runs against the medium pace and off-spin that constituted the Sherborne bowling attack.

However, just as it looked like Butler (23) was going to cause some damage after launching a couple of well-hit boundaries his innings was cut short with another catch to Parfitt off the bowling of Pete Durston (2-44).

READ MORE: Abbotsbury edge Martinstown Seconds

The incoming and similarly attack-minded Chas Duerdoth (2) did not linger long as another catch was claimed when he picked out Andrew Guppy at mid-wicket to leave the home side on 149-4 in the 33rd over.

Brian however was batting with aplomb mixing sound defence with attacking intent as he patiently crafted an assured half-century.

After a tentative start Worsdell found his touch with a quickfire 38 before being run out with one ball remaining as Abbotsbury pushed over the 200 mark.

Simon Pittman ran a two off the final ball and with Brian (56no) remaining undefeated the Swans set a target of 208 for Sherborne to chase.

After the tea break, Abbotsbury got off to a dream start as Duerdoth removed Adam Smith on the first ball of the innings with a thin edge to wicketkeeper Worsdell.

It was not long before Sherborne were two down, Avid Alam (1-33) claiming a well deserved first wicket for the Swans as David Barnstable (5) was caught by a diving Elliot Gunn at short mid-off.

With the score on 15-2 the home side were looking to tighten their grip on the game but Sherborne’s skipper Guppy and Parfitt batted soundly to move the score to 85 before spinner Butler (2-34) broke the partnership by bowling Guppy (41).

Some wayward Abbotsbury bowling aided a fruitful spell for Sherborne as the scoring accelerated in the middle part of the innings, with Daniel Baker (56) the main beneficiary.

Parfitt (45) was finally removed when he hit Brian into the hands of Harrow on the long on boundary and the returning Duerdoth (2-17) bowled Pinkawa (12) but the away side were apparently strolling to victory with five wickets in hand and only 15 runs required from the remaining five overs.

Abbotsbury optimism was reignited however when Gunn (1-33) removed Baker and in the next over Butler got his second wicket to a sprawling Pankaj Nikale catch at slip.

However, last week’s drama at Martinstown was not to be repeated as Durston (13) hit the winning boundary with eight balls to spare.

*Abbotsbury are sponsored by Brace of Butchers in Poundbury.

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