BRIDGWATER suffered their third final-over defeat of the season on Saturday, as they went down by two runs to relegation-threatened Corsham.

Having restricted Corsham to 158-9 from their 50 overs, Bridgwater found themselves needing 11 runs to win with just three wickets remaining.

But a devastating spell from Corsham’s Robin D’Souza tore through the lower order to send the visitors to their sixth defeat of an inconsistent season.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Corsham’s innings got off to the worst possible start as Tom Drake (3-40) and Chris Skidmore (3-21) knocked over the top order to reduce the home side to 22-4.

Sam Collier (64) was the mainstay of the Corsham innings, but he was given a helping hand along the way as Bridgwater dropped him twice in single figures.

Mike Coles (2-17) made further inroads into the Corsham line-up to leave them struggling on 101-7 and seemingly out of it.

But a partnership of 48 between Ben Gardner (16) and Collier dragged their side past the 150 mark as they finished up on 158-9.

In reply, Mike Coles (52) and Andy Hallaran (18) powered their way to 61, before left-arm spinner Tom Foley (2-13) bowled Hallaran for a patient 18, before trapping the dangerous Coles in front with the last ball of his spell.

This heralded a poor spell for the visitors as they slumped to 103-6 in the face of steady bowling from Morrison (2-18) and King (1-28).

Josh Vickery (25) and George Dockrell (20) recovered the position, cautiously edging their way to 148 before Vickery became the first of D’Souza’s four wickets.

With 11 needed, the Bridgwater tail was blown away by the brilliance of D’Souza as he accounted for Dockrell, Montgomery and Skidmore to send Bridgwater to an agonising defeat.

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l On Saturday, Bridgwater host Downend (12.30pm) while the 2nd X1 travel to the reverse fixture.