Abbotsbury beat Martinstown Seconds by 12 runs

A MAGNIFICENT century by Marcus Evans ensured that Abbotsbury completed a third-straight win in a closely-fought encounter with Martinstown Seconds in County Division Three.

Following a successful toss, Abbotsbury batted first at Martinstown with last week’s centurion Simon Pengelly and the returning Evans first up at the crease, with Charlie Andrews (0-41) and Nitin Bodapathi (1-63) leading the bowling attack for the home team.

After a quiet opening couple of overs, Evans sprang into attack mode by smacking three successive fours off Bodapati and soon Pengelly was joining the action with a flurry of boundaries of his own.

READ MORE: Abbotsbury beat Hamworthy Seconds by 104 runs

Both batters were fortunate though to avoid dismissal early in their innings as presentable catches were spurned in the field and the pair took full advantage to pummel the Martinstown attack.

Former Abbotsbury resident Evans was making what will be his sole appearance for the Swans this season before returning to Australia and he swiftly reached a half-century with successive sixes.

At the other end, Pengelly also reached 50 but became mostly content with singles as Evans stormed towards a thrilling century.

After an opening partnership of 190, Ed Maltby (1-45) eventually made the breakthrough for Martinstown by trapping Pengelly lbw for 70 and Marcus Daubeney (3-35) grabbed the wicket of Nick Kneebone (14) as the Swans sought to further pile on the runs.

Evans was eventually caught for 133, an innings which contained 16 fours and six maximums but there was a little let up for Martinstown as the incoming Pan Nikale (27) had license to hit out in the closing overs.

However, a flurry of late wickets, including two run-outs, enabled Martinstown to stem the flow of runs to a degree as the Swans finished up on 273-8.

In response, Martinstown opener Finlay Williams (38) also found good opportunities to hit the boundary rope as he and Lee House (14) put on 66 for the opening wicket before Pengelly (2-35) came into the attack to remove House.

A well-judged catch in the deep by Evans then saw the departure of Williams but Swans’ hopes of stifling the Martinstown score was cast aside by an impressive partnership between Ed Maltby (63) and Ryan Blair (76).

Both players posted half-centuries scored at a rate that swung the pendulum in their team’s favour, despite the economical spinner Nikale (0-38).

With 52 required for victory and eight overs remaining, Harry Testa-Fisher (1-48) triggered the turning point as Blair holed out to Nikale on the straight boundary and five runs later paceman Avid Alam (4-59) returned for a second spell to flick the bails of Maltby.

A golden duck followed for incoming home skipper Jack Kane after a marginal lbw decision went the way of Alam and indecision over a quick single led to the run out of Ralph Daughney (0).

Alam also accounted for Bodapathi (11) as Pengelly took a good catch out of the sun though Andrews (15) kept the runs going to keep the result in the balance.

However, following his run-out courtesy of a direct hit from Kneebone the Martinstown tail were unable to dig out the remaining 12 runs required as the home side fell 12 runs short on completion of the allotted 40 overs.

Abbotsbury entertain league leaders Cattistock & Symene Seconds today, weather permitting (1.30pm).