Abbotsbury 194/8 (20pts) beat Symene 156 a.o. by 38 runs

Symene are now unlikely to overhaul second place Kingston Lacey after defeat to Abbotsbury.

With only two games remaining Kingston Lacey are 22 points ahead of the west Dorset club.

An all-round display from Pankaj Nikale consigned Symene to defeat at neighbours Abbotsbury.

The home side batted first and were soon reduced to 8/2 at the hands of paceman Rob Jones.

Fred Pitman (20) steadied the ship alongside Chas Duerdoth (25) before he fell to Jake Jobson.

The Abbotsbury middle order then pulled away purposefully thanks to several important partnerships.

Kynan Brian (23) and Budd (20) set the stage for Nikale’s brisk run-a-ball 56 to post an imposing total of 194/8.

Bowlers Jones and Bradley Wilkinson finished with 2/24 and 2/39 respectively.

After the interval, Avid Alam removed Wes Lewis first ball of the innings in a noteworthy 11 ball first over containing 10 Extras.

Sam Challis then joined Leo Gurd and the pair took the score to 34 before Gurd departed, bowled Alam for 12.

No.4 Rueben Kingston arrived and with Challis looking in fine form, the two progressed to a promising 75/3 until the pivotal 12th over, when Challis departed for 32.

He became the first of three quick wickets for Nikale, with the dismissals of Kingston (11) and Sam Good (12) returning a 4/18 analysis.

The Symene tail offered resistance, and were ahead of the asking rate, but Abbotsbury clinched victory in the 31st over.