A MARSHALL Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two game that ebbed and flowed between two well matched sides was eventually claimed by Dunmow as they beat East Bergholt by 17 runs.

Inserted on a slow green wicket, Dunmow made a positive start with Luke Swanston (21), Nav Ali (14) and Oli Rooney (18) all playing top quality shots before being undone by the vagaries of the wicket.

With Paul Reid and James Reyburn also departing, Dunmow were 84 for five in the 19th over, but the decisive phase of play was only just beginning.

Nick Kesingland then smashed 62 from 32 balls, and with support from Mark Rosewell (11) and Tom Pierson-McGeorge (20) the score rattled along to 181 for eight.

Some dropped catches allowed Dunmow to add further late runs as they were all out for 215.

Dunmow's opening bowlers, supported by brilliant fielding, tore into the hosts with the new ball, with Reyburn claiming two for 17 and Matt Gibson three for 37.

With a brilliant run out and Steve Hamlin claiming a wicket, the game looked over and done with as Bergholt were stuttering on 55 for seven, but the lower order made a stand so, with six overs to go, just 26 runs were needed.

However, Gibson was recalled for a second spell and he claimed three for nought from seven balls to leave Bergholt all out for 198.

Dunmow seconds crushed West Mersea seconds by nine wickets in division nine south.

They bowled their hosts out for 45 before chasing the runs in just six overs for the loss of one wicket.

On Saturday, the firsts travel to high-flying Clacton, while the seconds host Eight Ash Green seconds.