WAREHAM 73 (4pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 197-8 (20pts) by 126 runs

CHARLTON Down won promotion to County Division Two next season with an emphatic 126-run win over struggling Wareham.

Down are still in contention for the Division Three title but must must gain 18 points on leaders Chalke Valley in the final two games.

After winning the toss Charlton Down were soon in trouble losing both Cameron Lucas (0) and Roger Frapwell (2) at 15-2 as Jamie Whyte (3-16) and Elliott Baczala (3-26) fired.

Down captain Jack Eveleigh and Sam Roles added 50 runs but when Eveleigh and Jonathon Kay were both dismissed by the impressive fast bowling of Baczala (3-26), Charlton Down were struggling on 85-4.

Roles (63) had batted beautifully keeping the Charlton down innings together but when he was dismissed by the flight and spin of Tim Fairhall for an impressive hard-hitting half-century, including six fours and three sixes, Charlton Down were 106-5 and in danger of being bowled out cheaply.

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However, man-of-the-match Matt Stevens (35) had other ideas and helped by Dan Samways (32) added a quickfire 60-run partnership to take the game away from Wareham.

Cameo innings from Mark Homewood, Joe Taylor and Kieran Heath added a further 30 runs to end on 197-8.

The Wareham reply got off to a solid start with Martin Upshall (11) and Andrew Baczala (14) putting on 27 in eight overs.

However, a change of footwear from Mark Homewood (3-24) saw him take three wickets in two overs and when Kieran Heath (1-33) had Elliott Baczala (5) caught at first slip by a sharp catch from Lucas, Wareham had collapsed to 33-3.

Conor Hale (16) and James Bottomley (9) added 30 runs but the introduction of Joe Taylor (2-12) saw him remove both players with the score on 63-5.

Matt Stevens (3-0) then took a fine hat trick, the final scalp courtesy of a fine sharp catch by Lucas at slip.

Finally, it was Roles who enticed Chris Rab to smash the final ball of the match to Lucas at silly mid-off who clung on brilliantly to secure victory and promotion.

Charlton Down host Martinstown Seconds on Saturday (1.30pm).