FOR the second week running Droitwich Spa lost a Worcestershire County League Division One match they could have won.

Chaddesley Corbett won by two wickets with three balls to spare in what proved to be a tense and exciting match at St Peter's Field.

Spa batted first and built an innings of 210 for eight with all the top order batsmen scoring over 20, but none managing to go on to a major score.

Nigel Haddock impressed with a confident 37 in his first match at number three.

Edwards, for Chaddesley Corbett, was the pick of the bowlers, regularly beating the outside edge with the new ball and picking up four wickets, as did man of the match Ian Chappell.

However, the batsmen, on an excellent batting wicket, generally gave their wickets away and 210 was to prove a disappointing total.

Chaddesley Corbett attacked the Spa bowlers from the off, with the first seven overs going for over 40.

The superb return catch by Paul Bryan to dismiss Truswell slowed the run chase down and the introduction of spin to both ends meant that at the halfway stage Chaddesley Corbett were 90-5.

Spa seemed to be making breakthroughs at crucial times (Churchill 65-4 and Gunston 67-3), just as Chaddesley had when they were in the field.

At this point Droitwich Spa were looking to bowl out the opposition.

An excellent innings by George Baylis (41) kept the tempo of the visitors' innings in touch with the run rate.

However, when Chappell (42 not out) came to the wicket Chaddesley needed over seven an over to win. Bryan was attacked with aplomb on his return spell as his extra pace suited Chappell's powerful strokes.

If a chance off Chappell was taken early on the result may have been different but, when Chaddesley needed 17 off the last two overs, the tenth wicket pairing managed to find the gaps to the boundary and pull off a superb victory.