SWANAGE SECONDS 121-6 (17pts) beat ABBOTSBURY 106 (4pts) by 15 runs

ABBOTSBURY slumped to a narrow 15-run defeat in the battle of the Swans in County Division Four.

On a sunny if cool afternoon in Swanage, the home side won the toss and decided to bat first.

It was Abbotsbury who were to strike the early blows, though, as Jay Lintern (2-23) sent two batsmen back to the pavilion within the opening six overs.

On what was to prove a bowler-friendly pitch, Swanage batsmen Paul Norman (25) and Tim Ives (31) knuckled down and denied Abbotsbury any further success until the 23rd over, when the former miscued a drive straight to Chris Backhouse at cover.

Two further quick wickets then fell to raise Abbotsbury’s hopes of an early finish, but Paul Yerby (26 not out) and Andy Baczala (8) dug in to prevent any further loss until the latter was brilliantly run out by Backhouse with a direct hit.

However, no more wickets were to fall and the home side eked out a modest total of 121 from their 40 overs.

Abbotsbury would have been confident of chasing down that score but were dealt an early blow when off spinner Jeremy Warner (2-14) had opener Simon Allen (7) caught out in the second over of the reply.

The away side struggled against the nagging accuracy of Warner and medium pacer Pete Barker (1-12) and lost two more cheap wickets as the match swung back in the direction of Swanage.

However, Backhouse batted with a positive attitude and, in partnership with Frank Pittman, wrestled the advantage back in Abbotsbury’s favour.

But the pendulum swung again as Pittman (6) fell to a great reaction catch by Warner at short mid-wicket which precipitated a collapse in the Abbotsbury lower order.

Despite a belligerent Backhouse (65 not out) regularly finding the boundary, including two sixes, no other batsman was able to offer any support.

And when number 11 Lintern was bowled around his legs offering no shot to gift Dave Morton (5-29) his fifth wicket, the visiting Swans had imploded to a thoroughly disappointing defeat.

Abbotsbury are fifth in the table after five matches, level on points with Corfe Mullen Seconds.

This Saturday sees Abbotsbury enjoy home advantage for their clash with bottom side Hamworthy Recreation Seconds.