THERE was a nail-biting finish at Two Mile Oak where Abbotskerswell beat Seaton by six runs.

Abbots were all-out for 190 in the last of their 45 overs – skipper Charlie Hill making a top score of 57.

Seaton got down to the final two balls with their last pair at the crease and 12 needed to tie.

When tail-ender Paul Collins hit the penultimate ball for six it was game on!

The last ball from Elliott Adams foxed Collins, who let it pass him by.

Hill went in at second wicket down and lost surviving opener Charlie Mitchell (25) on 70 for three.

Tom Keily put on 29 in a stand of 43 with Mitchell, who perished in 148 to Tim Mitchell.

Mitchell went on to take five for 30 to bowl Abbots out.

Matt Hewer and Josh Cann put on 57 for Seaton’s third wicket before Noah Tobias (2-32) split them up.

Two run-outs didn’t help the Seaton cause, neither did Connor Adams with a couple of wickets.

When Mitchell was run out for 17 only last pair Collins and Kersley Sutton remained.

Their 39-run stand – Collins made 23 not out – kept it interesting to the end.

“It was a good start to the season for us in what was a contest between even teams,” said Hill.

“We built ourselves a good platform with the bat in order to push hard late on, but didn't quite come off for us only managing 190.

“It was nice to be back in the runs again after a poor season personally last year.

Ricky and Tom Keily bowled well up-top, not giving much away.

“Where we won the game was in the middle overs, Elliot Adams, Noah Wright and Connor Adams all bowled tight picking up key wickets, which helped us control the game.”

Seaton skipper Ben Morgan said it was a tense end to a game that ended closer than looked likely for a long time.

“We were delighted to get Abbots all out for 190 – we would have taken that beforehand,” said Morgan.

“You can see they are a good side as every time we started getting on top the fought back.

“A couple of close calls went their way not ours, but as we dropped four catches we can’t complain.

“Matt Hewer (31) and Josh Cann (32) got us back in the game after a poor start, but I thought we were out of it as they bowled well and we were nine down and 40-odd short.

“Phil had a go at the end and we got a lot closer than we probably deserved.

“We need to tighten up in a few areas, but we did okay against a good side and will only get better ourselves.”

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