ABBOTSBURY 121 (2pts) lost to HAMWORTHY RECREATION SECONDS 124-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

ABBOTSBURY’S promotion ambitions suffered a further blow as the Swans slumped to a second successive defeat as fellow contenders Hamworthy proved too strong in County Division Four.

With Hamworthy’s first team not in action, Abbotsbury faced a strengthened opposition on a warm sunny day at the Canford Magna ground.

After calling the toss correctly Swans’ skipper Simon Pengelly and fellow opening batsman Simon Allen made a promising start as a fast outfield ensured maximum return.

Pengelly continued his recent good form as he regularly found the boundary but Hamworthy’s Joe O’Brien (1-24) made the breakthrough for the home side when Allen (10) was caught at square leg with the total on 30.

The Swans were soon reduced to 50-3 as Robin Potter (3) was adjudged lbw off the bowling of Mike Fisher (1-13) and Frank Pittman was caught for a duck.

Chas Duerdoth joined Pengelly at the crease and played some typically belligerent shots in a quickfire 27 but a promising partnership was cut short when a ball from spinner Dan Avery (2-9) beat an attempted pull shot by Duerdoth to rattle the stumps.

Worse was to follow for Abbotsbury as Pengelly (43) was contentiously caught behind and Steve Budd and Nick Kneebone both departed without troubling the scorers.

Some lower order resistance from Aaron Oliver (14) and Ashley Harrow (11) pushed the score past the 100 mark but a third batting point remained out of reach as Jack Hector (2-17) wrapped up the Abbotsbury innings in the 36th over.

Defending a modest total of 121, the early breakthrough that the Swans needed was provided by Krish Subramanian (1-29).

The experienced spinner bowled Tim Wood (3) round his legs in the fourth over.

However, that was as good as it got for the away side as, despite some tidy bowling from the Abbotsbury attack, no one was able to stifle Hamworthy batsmen Sam Stroud (58no) and Jack Hector (59no) as they regularly pierced the in field.

Stroud was given a reprieve when he was dropped in the slips off the bowling of Duerdoth (0-25) but both players finished unbeaten as Hamworthy cantered to victory with 19 overs to spare.

Next up for the Swans is a tough challenge against unbeaten league leaders Charlton Down.

*Abbotsbury CC are sponsored by Bride Valley Motors.