BRAD Dawson hailed teenager Adam Sullivan after Chippenham squeaked home in a nail-biting final-ball one-run victory over Burbage and Easton Royal at the weekend.

The 16-year-old, playing in only his second Premier Two Glos/Wilts match for the Hardenhuish Park club, kept things tight with the ball – he only conceded 18 runs from seven overs – to help set the platform for a the win.

Chippenam, who won the toss and opted to bat first at the Red Lion Field, got off to a poor start as openers Aaron Merryweather and Ollie Slade were back in the hutch with only 12 runs on the board.

However, Darryl Lopser (60) and wicketkeeper Billy Cookson (31) repaired the early damage and helped Chippenham to 219-7 from their 50 overs, with Adam Lavis the pick of the Burbage attack with 2-22 from his 10 overs.

In reply, the hosts got off to a steady start, with Jonathan Chandler and skipper Dave Cope putting on 47 for the first wicket.

Once Chandler fell, Cope (70) looked well set to leading Burbage to victory before he was dismissed by Merryweather (4-44).

“It was a proper game of cricket,” Dawson said. “It was a game that went both ways.

“They probably should have won it when it was 10 overs to go and then it was us with five overs left and in the end, it went down to the last ball.

“Adam Sullivan bowled really well in what was only his second first team match.

“We only had one spinner in the side and it was a real job trying to rotate the attack.

“I couldn’t really let Adam, despite how well he played, bowl at the death, so that went to Aaron Merryweather and he bowled as good as I have seen him do so for the club.”

Meanwhile, Biddestone were also involved in a close win as they defeated Goatacre by three runs.

Having fell to 24-2 after being asked to bat, the hosts were indebted to George Linde (71) and Dwaine Perry (92) for repairing the early damage as they shared a third-wicket stand of 124 runs. Biddestone were dismissed with the penultimate ball for 252 as Giorgio Rigali picked up 5-42 for Goatacre.

In reply, the visitors looked set for victory at 200-3, but the loss of four wickets for 21 runs left them reeling despite the efforts Jonathan Wilkins (67) and Jack Haines (50).

Goatacre also saw Toby Horton (37) dismissed for obstructing the field as Biddestone restricted them to 249-9, with Naeem Khan picking up 3-34.