IN a closely contested Glos/Wilts game at Bredon, Bassett went down to a three-wicket defeat with an over to go.

Batting first, Bassett started brightly before Jug Chahal was caught behind for eight. The wicket was of variable bounce, with several deliveries rearing up nastily for the batsmen.

The hostile bowling of Hill and Bridge was causing problems for both Tony Shama and Paul Elliott. Elliott soon departed, adjudged lbw, and with Shama following quickly, caught behind, Bassett were struggling at 56-4 after 17 overs.

Sean Clark then started to take on the bowlers, and although he lost both Tim Gallimore for a duck, and John Clarke for 16 soon after, Bassett were 95-6 at the halfway stage.

With the experience of Rod Smith joining Clark, the innings progressed and a reasonable total was on the cards.

Unfortunately for Bassett, Clark holed out at mid-off for 53 valuable runs, but with Smith still pushing the score along, Bassett managed to reach 174 all out in 48 overs, giving Bredon two extra overs, which in the end was to be decisive.

Bredon's innings began slowly with both Stuart Smith and Andy Stevens keeping the batsmen quiet, both bowling a good line.

The batsmen were now getting behind the scoring rate, and with the loss of opener Duffield, and then two wickets to consecutive balls from Andy Stevens, Bassett were back in the game.

A stand by Ferry and Hill, which began to look dangerous, was broken by Smith, and after 30 overs, Bredon, with half their side out, had only 75 on the board.

This was the turning point for Bassett, with both Smith and Stevens finishing their spells of bowling.

The back up bowling was not up to the usual standard. After a wayward first over, Lee Stevens began to get the ball to turn, but Hill began to attack the bowling and together with Allen, looked increasingly likely to reach the target.

With skipper Shama rotating the bowlers, Bassett battled on as always, but Bredon got home in the 51st over.

The two overs lost by not batting their 50 became a crucial factor in Bassett's defeat.