ROWLEDGE, after an excellent bowling display, lost by an agonising eight runs at home to Tichborne Park in the Southern Premier League Division One.

The visitors elected to bat at the Rec, but the evergreen Chris Yates turned the screw from one end and soon dispatched Martin Cheyney.

Tichborne’s top order very much gave their wickets away, with Ben Allen, Henry Don and Pradeeptha Gunaratne all getting themselves in and then holing out as the Rowledge bowlers kept their discipline.

Seventeen-year-olds Harry Neate and Jake Wish bowled with great accuracy and at 118-6, after three wickets for Joe Randall, Tichborne were in need of a partnership. Skipper Will Allam and Jack Skinner then batted positively, but sensibly, to add 85 in an unbroken stand and Tichborne recovered to 203-6 from their 50 overs.

Rowledge began very brightly in reply, with openers Nick Morant and Tom Gleave putting on 80. Morant was the main aggressor, making 45 at nearly a run a ball and taking a particular liking to Ben Allen’s seamers.

Even when Morant departed leg before ­– one of five lbws in the innings – and Gleave (36) and Tom Treble followed, Rowledge were well set at 119-3 from 23 overs.

But things changed dramatically. David Lloyd was caught behind, and after two more lbws and an absurd run-out, the home side had collapsed to 162-9.

Yates and Neate refused to give up and chipped away at the target on a track that was becoming lower and slower. Only nine runs were required when the brave Neate was bowled by James Long after a last-wicket stand of 33.

Tichborne bowled well, especially the two Allams, but Rowledge will wonder how they failed to chase down the runs, having been in such a dominant position. They get on the ferry to Ventnor this Saturday.

* Oakwood Hill, Rowledge’s scheduled opponents on Sunday in the Village Cup, conceded the match.