SEAMERS Dan Conway, with an immaculate 5-16 return for Bournemouth, and Dan Goodey, with a six-wicket response for Bashley (Rydal), ruled the roost at Chapel Gate, where 17 wickets fell for 163 runs before tea.

But Jake Hurley prevailed with an unbeaten 45 which earned Bournemouth a priceless three-wicket ECB Southern Premier League win – only their second in the all-day time pennant format – which narrowed the gap between themselves and Hook & Newnham Basics at the bottom to a handful of points, writes Mike Vimpany ..

The respective innings mirrored each other, with Conway’s new-ball spell reducing Bashley to 29-7 before lunch and Goodey having Bournemouth in desperate trouble themselves at 37-6 in mid-afternoon.

Bournemouth captain Chris Park refuted any suggestion a poor surface had been the under lying reason for the low scoring match.

“Not at all. Two very experienced Minor Counties’ seam bowlers – Dan Conway, late of Herefordshire and Devon’s Dan Goodey – exploited the conditions,” he explained.

“In both innings there was a bit of swing, coupled with movement off the pitch. There was poor shot selection from both sets of players. Of Conway’s five victims, three were bowled and another leg before.

“When the shine went off the ball, it became a tad softer and conditions eased, hence the recoveries made by the later order in both innings.”

Bowling cross-seam, Conway trapped Ben Francis leg before with his fourth ball before left-armer Simon Woodruff (2-31) removed teenager Will Tripcony and Josh Digby to leave Bashley 15-3.

Conway then struck four times in quick succession as Bashley plunged to 29-7. He bowled three of his victims and trapped another leg before in a stunning pre-lunch bowling spell.

Finn Gordon, who has just turned 15 years of age and, ironically, is coached by Conway at Clayesmore School, and George Wilson added 60 in an eighth-wicket stand for Bashley.

Left-hander Gordon, younger brother of Dorset's Jacob (Gordon), looked to have time at the crease and played some nice shots in making a pleasant 36 and with Wilson making 31 not out, Bashley managed to make it to 103 before Hurley got two more leg befores to end the innings.

Goodey immediately struck back for Bashley, having Nick Park caught behind of the fourth ball of Bournemouth's reply.

By the end of the sixth over the Devon all-rounder had reduced Bournemouth to 25-3. By the time the 10th had been completed, the Lions had lurched to 37-6, Woodruff making 16 of them.

Five of the wickets had been bagged by Goodey, Luke Webb and Rob Pack off successive deliveries.

Bashley's prospects of pulling off an improbable victory were dashed by Hurley, who added an important 23 with Lewis Freak before (at 60-7) being joined in an unbroken match winning partnership with the experienced Chris Park, 13 not out.

Hurley dumped Joe Huns and Goodey for sixes before going on to hit a critical 45 not out and guide Bournemouth to a crucial win.