NEITHER team had much fortune on the batting front when Dinton and Penton went head-to-head.

Penton batted first winning the toss and started brightly before the first wicket fell, when skipper Rich Cridge (1-22) bowled the dangerous looking Richard Jenson for 20 in the fifth over. The introduction of Martin Stennings saw the second wicket fall in the 14th over, having Huw Rouse stumped for 21.

The score progressed to 77 when the flood gates opened and Stennings took three wickets in four balls, all caught by Cridge. He took a wicket in his next over for good measure as Penton slipped from 77- 2 to 81-6.

The batsmen managed to get their side over the hundred milestone shortly before they were bowled out for 105. Chasing low totals can be notoriously tricky, but when Dinton reached 66-1 in the 18th over no one could have foreseen the carnage that was to follow.

Nick Gale (25) and Simon Rawlins (31) added 50 for the second wicket.

But when the pair and Cridge fell to bowler Paul Stanford, with the score on 66, nerves started to jangle in the home dressing room.

Arran Musselwhite (12) and Dave Roberts (18) added a crucial 30 runs to take their team within 10 of victory, but again three wickets fell with the score routed on 96, two of those from Stanford. Two run outs also did the home team no favours, and with three runs needed the final wicket was taken again by Stanford, who finished with 5-30 to complete a remarkable three-run victory.

Dinton remain chasing their first win.