IT was another case of a missed opportunity for Dunstall captain Martin Clewley (below) as his side fell short in their run chase.

The defeat was especially harsh on Carl Eyden and Jamie Benstead, whose third-wicket partnership had done much to haul the home side into what Clewley believed was the perfect position to beat Spondon.

“We said at the start if we could get to drinks two wickets down chasing fives and sixes for those last 25 overs, that's where we wanted to be and they got us into that position,” he said.

“Carl went in under very difficult circumstances with two early wickets and batted very well. I was really impressed with the way he and Jamie batted in the first 20 overs and they built the platform we needed.

“Going into the last 20 overs, we thought we had enough batting to see that one out and win the game comfortably. Coming down to the last 10 overs, we were still in a very good position but we've just not batted well in that final phase of the game.

“I would expect us, with our batting line-up, to win that game comfortably. I know they put us under pressure, I know they have a good bowling side but I would still back us and it's disappointing we didn't.

“That's maybe the second time we've chased a total and come off at the end thinking we should have won because the same happened at Chesterfield earlier in the season.”

It added to the agony for Clewley that Dunstall also lost in a tight finish to the same opposition in the Premier Cup earlier this month.

But he said he was not tempted to shut up shop and settle for a draw, even when Eyden was seventh man out with two overs to go.

“We only needed 17 off two overs,” he added. “It only takes a boundary and then you are pushing it around.

“This ground has lots of ones and twos around, so under the circumstances, we decided at that point to keep going up to the final wicket.

“We've had two cracking games with them. The last one went down to the penultimate ball and this one's gone down to the last over again.

“We're playing good cricket but just letting ourselves down in the final phase of the game.”