BATTING frailties were once again exposed in a bizarre game of cricket at St Edmunds Lane as Dunmow lost to Long Melford in a low-scoring Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship division two game.

It was a game that brought into sharp focus the need for Dunmow's batsmen to value their wickets and bat time, especially when chasing a small target.

It had all started so well, with the Dunmow bowlers taking advantage of a damp pitch and swinging conditions.

Matt Gibson got the home side off to the perfect start, claiming his first victim with the score still on 0.

Pressure was maintained and another wicket for Gibson left the visitors on 30 for two after 15 overs.

The one meaningful partnership of the Long Melford innings was then built as the score moved along to 72, before the first of four wickets for Baz Sewell (10-3-35-4).

Backed by outstanding catching, Sewell and Steve Hamlin (12.2-3-26-4) ran through the tail to leave Melford all out for 98.

Gibson finished with figures of 9-3-24-2.

With eight of the Long Melford batsmen falling to catches, the Dunmow batsmen could have taken their cue about how to approach the chase, but in some cases failed to do so.

Wickets fell regularly to some accurate bowling, but there was a level of application missing behind at least four of the dismissals.

The end of the game generated a complete mirror image of the scene at tea and left Dunmow desperate for a win on Saturday at Lakenheath.