KINGSTON LACY 80 (4pts) lost to ABBOTSBURY 84-6 (18pts) by four wickets
ABBOTSBURY secured their first win of the season in a low-scoring game away to Kingston Lacy in County Division Three.
Just 164 runs were scored for the loss of 16 wickets in total, as the Swans got off the mark.
Abbotsbury were asked to bowl first in the verdant surroundings of Pamphill Green and the opening bowling attack of skipper Kynan Brian and Avid Alam managed to restrict the scoring to a glacial pace in the opening overs.
Alam (1-11) grabbed the first wicket in the seventh over when Andy Thompson (2) slapped a short ball straight to Sam Greening at cover.
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The highest partnership of the innings followed as Nick Lewis (29) and Matt Holton (21) put on 47 but the spin wizardry of Pankaj Nikale (2-16) accounted for Holton and a double-wicket maiden from the ever reliable Elliot Gunn (2-16) quickly reduced the home side to 63-4 in the 25th over.
Brian returned himself to the attack from the other end with immediate success as two superb deliveries bowled Rob Williams (2) and Peter Sparks (0) while the off-spin of Simon Pengelly (3-7) bowled Marc Wells (9) and James Holton (1) and induced Lacy skipper Steve Maine (1) into hitting his own stumps for a rare hit-wicket dismissal.
Nikale nabbed the final wicket as the Kingston Lacy innings was wrapped up for 80.
With the soft pitch not favourable for batting there was no room for complacency for Abbotsbury as Pengelly (28) and Ashley Harrow took to the crease for the run chase.
There was an early setback for the Swans when Harrow (1) was adjudged lbw off the bowling of James Holton (2-16) but the score was pushed on to 34 with a mixture of watchful defence and punishment of some wayward deliveries.
Nick Kneebone (13) was somewhat unfortunate to be bowled by one that failed to bounce but enough runs were secured by the middle order despite the loss of top-scorer Pengelly to dismiss any concerns of a collapse.
Brian, Nikale and Harry Testa-Fisher each chipping in with ten runs before Greening (5no) secured the win with a four as the Swans eased home with 14 overs to spare.
This afternoon, Abbotsbury host Dorchester Seconds (1pm).
Main sponsor: The Old Ship Inn, Upwey.
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