A TWO-wicket defeat has put a major dent in Dinton seconds’ escape plan at mid-table Andover as they now have to win their remaining two games to retain their Regional Division Three (North West) status.

The hosts were going well at four an over for the first ten, skipper Rich Cridge being dominated, scoring 31 of the 39 runs, but was caught driving loosely to mid-on.

From here, the innings stumbled. Andy Nuttall (22) and Dan Baber (14) did their best to keep the innings going. But it was Yates for the home side who curtailed both their innings as he finished with 4-20 as Dinton were bowled out for just 113.

After tea there was hope for Dinton when Nuttall struck with the first ball of the innings.

At the halfway mark, the game was nicely poised with Thruxton at 66-6.

Dinton were hindered when their bowling resources we depleted when a recurrence of Cridge’s on-going back injury forced him to limp out of the attack.

But 15-year-old James Kennedy entered and proved an adequate replacement as he removed the hosts’ skipper Paul Harvey for 14.

Dinton were to pick up one more wicket but it wasn’t enough.