Dinton v Penton.

Penton batted with John Hunter (14) and Richard Jenson (20 and there looked to be a good total in the game. Richard Cridge halted Jenson’s progress but Huw Rouse (21) took over until he was stumped in the 14th over with the total on 55.

Steve Patrick (10) then joined Hunter, but with the score at 77 in the 20th over, things started going wrong for Penton. Both were out in the same over and when Kerry Charles went the score was soon 82-7. Martin Patrick (14no) and Bob Wooten (5) took the total past 100, but with Barry and Liam Kavanagh both out for a duck, the final total of 105 all out was fairly disheartening for Penton. Best bowling figures were by Martin Stenning, with 6-26 off nine overs.

Dinton’s opener Dan Baber (5) was bowled early by Charles, but Nick Gale (25) and Simon Rawlins (31) were able to steadily raise the total and easily maintained their required run rate. In the 16th over, Paul Stanford’s bowling was finally rewarded with the wicket of Gale, and the following over saw Barry Kavanagh finally being rewarded with the wicket of Rawlins. Stanford then took Richard Cridge with the score still on 66, and Penton then began to realise they might have a chance of winning .

Aaron Musselwhite (12) and Dave Roberts (18) had other thoughts until Roberts was out on 96-5 in the 26th over, taken lbw again by Stanford. The following ball saw Stanford bowl Andy Coulson and nails started to get bitten on both sides.

Charles bowled Musselwhite in the next over, with the score still on 96 and Steve Middlecote and Stenning took on the challenge of getting the ten runs for their win, but both were run out with the total on 100-9.

Martin was then also run out, and the score had crept to 101 for 9. The brothers Ben and Tom Combes nervously stood at the crease, with Penton’s tails up, but only four runs needed for a win. Tom took a quick single off his first ball but in Stanford’s next over the safe hands of Martin Patrick meant Penton had somehow won by three runs.

The most pleasing aspect of the game was the good humoured sportsmanship shown by all in a game which kept everyone on their toes.