ABBOTSBURY 134-3 (20pts) beat BROADSTONE II 130 (4pts) by seven wickets

ABBOTSBURY secured the points needed to ensure the Swans retained their place in County Division Three with a resounding victory over visitors Broadstone.

The Swans started the final game of the season with just two points separating them from the drop zone occupied by already relegated Cattistock & Symene Seconds and Kingston Lacy, who were playing at Shillingstone.

Broadstone were asked to bat first by Swans’ skipper David Worsdell.

Despite a confident looking start by openers Richard Poole (8) and Daniel Smith (5) the away side quickly found themselves three down with Chas Duerdoth continuing the electric bowling that saw him take seven wickets in the previous game against Cattistock.

READ MORE: Abbotsbury beat Cattistock & Symene by ten wickets

He took a brace in his second over, while spinner Pankaj Nikale snared the incoming Robin Wallis for a duck.

Despite Broadstone skipper Gary Smith batting assuredly, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals at the other end as the away side looked to play their shots.

Nikale (2-38) and Duerdoth (3-40) picked up another wicket apiece while the spin of Simon Pengelly (3-28) and pace of Avid Alam (1-20) mopped up the tail leaving Smith high and dry with an impressive 74 not out, Harry Ostling (11) the only other batter to reach double figures.

Chasing a modest 130, the Swans were rocked by the early loss of both openers with the score on 18, Worsdell (4) possibly unlucky to be adjudged lbw and Pengelly (9) departing after an edge to the keeper.

However, fears of a collapse were allayed by some superb batting from Kynan Brian and Duerdoth who built a dynamic 100-run partnership.

Duerdoth did survive a relatively simple chance when he offered up a shot to cover but otherwise both batters were largely untroubled until spinner McCrae sneaked one through Brian’s defence to be removed bowled for 41.

At this stage, the job was almost done though with just 13 runs required and the victory was secured when Duerdoth (57no) lifted Ostling over mid-wicket for six.

The final league table placed Abbotsbury in eighth, one place and 12 points clear of the relegation zone after Kingston Lacy fell to a narrow defeat at Shillingstone.

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