Rowledge can have no complaints after being comprehensively beaten at high-flying Easton & Martyr Worthy on Saturday, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Dave Booton was soon regretting his decision to bat first, with Rowledge losing openers John Harland and Jeff Anning cheaply.

However, Nick Morant, back from university, looked in good form, as did David Lloyd, and this pair batted well in the testing conditions and against some tight Easton bowling.

It was left-arm spinner Steve Green who did most of the damage. His first unlucky victim was Morant who bottom-edged a short ball on to the 'keeper's foot and up into the hands of first slip.

It was then an all too familiar story for Rowledge as batsmen came and went at regular intervals, with no-one showing the required application to stay with Lloyd.

The run-rate was barely three an over at the 40-over mark and without the required wickets in hand, the acceleration never came. Rowledge were all out in the 49th over with the score at 128, Lloyd having been run out for a disciplined 50.

An injury to Chris Yates Snr reduced Rowledge's already slim chances and they were forced to take the field with 10 men.

Anning bowled an inspired opening spell with very little luck, cutting through the Birch brothers on numerous occasions.

But this pair showed the resilience the visitors had lacked in occupying the crease and chancing their arm when the opportunities came.

Anning finally did remove them both, as well as Neave, but a third-wicket stand between Kevin Brewster and Shaun Green saw Easton home in only 35 overs.

Rowledge are home to Hungerford this Saturday. On Tuesday, they entertain division one side Burridge in the quarter-finals of the SEC Cup.

rowledge

J Harland c Gill b Brewster 9

J Anning c Butcher b Brewster 4

N Morant c Yeates b ST Green 26

D LLoyd run out 50

D Mitchell b Gill 3

D Booton lbw SH Green 0

CYates Snr b ST Green 8

P Tanner c Neave b ST Green 0

I Metcalfe st Butcher b ST Green 4

L Rogers not out 2

M Warner c Butcher b ST Green 2

Extras 20

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Total 128

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Bowling: K Brewster 2-38, F Gill 1-11, ST Green 5-33, SH Green 1-24.

easton

D Birch b Anning 18

A Birch b Anning 37

K Neave c Rogers b Anning 10

SH Green not out 17

K Brewster not out 30

Extras 17

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Total (for 3 wkts) 129

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Bowling: J Anning 3-48.