CHARLTON DOWN 253-6 (20pts) beat BRADFORD ABBAS 149 (6pts) by 104 runs

CHARLTON Down made it back-to-back wins with a comfortable 104-run victory over Bradford Abbas in their first home Saturday league match on grass.

They were asked to bat first after losing the toss and Bradford Abbas made good use the conditions, dismissing Jae Miller (4) to a low catch at cover off Steve Cake (2-16) with the score on 31.

Cake then had Javed Gill caught at square leg but Sam Roles and Matt Stevens looked solid for the hosts when they came to the crease.

Bradford Abbas bowler Chris Douch then produced an excellent yorker to dismiss Roles for 36 , but the Charlton Down middle order produced three hefty partnerships.

The first came between Matt Stevens (54) and Cameron Lucas (24), who added 67 runs in 11 overs, and, when Lucas was dismissed, the score had raced to 139-4.

Matt Stevens was joined by Kim Park (56 not out) and they added a further 57 before Stevens was caught.

Park then shared a partnership of 57 with debutant Robin Rutter in the last seven overs of the innings, taking the score to an imposing 253-6.

The Bradford Abbas response got off to the worst possible start as they lost their first four wickets for only nine runs with some inspired bowling from Matt Stevens (3-31) and Dan Stevens (1-5).

Dan struck first with his second ball then older brother Matt produced a devastating spell, claiming three victims in five balls to leave the opposition reeling.

A change of bowling paid off immediately for the home side with Roles and James Pretty taking a wicket each, leaving their opponents struggling on 28-6.

An early finish looked imminent but Richard Steadiford had other ideas and farmed the strike to accumulate 98 before being bowled in the 36th over.

And it was Park who wrapped up the innings to gain 20 points and take Charlton Down to second in the league table.

Charlton Down skipper Pete Tucker said: “It was a really good win and great to see players in good form with the bat and ball so early in the season.

“Playing on grass has been our aim at the club for the last two years and to be part of the first game is a great step forward.”

A meeting with table-topping Puddletown awaits Charlton Down this Saturday.