Amesbury captain, Jayme Underwood won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bowl first on a green and uneven surface. The opening bowling duo of Gareth Dobson and Jayden Atkinson began proceedings against Mottisfont openers, Dan Husbands and Ian Bradwell, although initially struggled to find their usual rhythm.

Husbands in particular, was quick to punish any deliveries remotely loose, despite previously having an opportunity dropped behind the wicket, the score advanced to 35 in the 7th over when Dobson struck in his 4th over, bowling Bradwell through the gate for 13.

Husbands aggression was to eventually get the better of him in the 11th over, driving powerfully only to pick out Underwood at mid-off and depart for 30 off the bowling of Dobson.

Mottisfont captain, Richard Blake joined Gary Collins at the crease and with the score reading 46/2, began the re-building process. A key part of the game was to unfold, with Dobson bowling beautifully and consistently causing problems for the batsmen. With Blake looking uneasy on the difficult surface, he ballooned the ball agonisingly in the cover region, only to avoid the grasp of the incoming fielders.

Nicholas Lessey was introduced into the attack, replacing Atkinson and despite leaking 2 boundaries in his first over, quickly eased into a rhythm and continued to build up pressure. Dobson duly finished his spell and was replaced by the inform Macauley Atkinson. With Mottisfont steadily placed at 101/2 following completion of the 25th over, Dale Gower was introduced and struck in his 2nd over, inducing a false stroke by Collins only to pick out Underwood at deep mid-on to depart for 17.

With Blake now growing in confidence, he set about increasing the run rate through a combination of hard running and brute force. He passed his 50, although when on 63 he offered an opportunity to Underwood at long-on, who took a good catch on the boundary off the bowling of Macauley Atkinson to leave Mottisfont 116/4.

Atkinson shortly followed up the wicket of Blake by trapping Tim Byrne in front for 9, whilst Neil Barnes was comfortably run-out for 0 after some good fielding produced by Lessey and wicketkeeper, Andy White. Andy Renshaw was also brought into the attack and with his intelligent use of subtle variations, bowled an excellent spell with little reward. His lack of luck was to be further compounded when sustaining a leg injury whilst fielding later on in Mottisfont's innings to result in being unable to open the batting for Amesbury later in the game.

At 147/6, the game was finely poised and Atkinson's spell was further rewarded with the wicket of Steve Godwin, bowled for a grafted 12. This however, proved to be the last wicket to fall as Rory Gribbell and Dan Evans chanced their arms (albeit fortunately at times) in the final few overs to crucially nudge Mottisfont over the 200 mark. Gribbell finished up on 43 not out to end Mottisfont's innings on 201/7.

Good contributions were made by all of Amesbury's bowlers notably including: Dobson (2/20), M Atkinson (3/47), Lessey (0/26) and Renshaw (0/30).

After tea, Underwood was joined at the top of the order by Lessey due to the leg injury sustained by Renshaw.

The score advanced to 13 in the 6th over, when Lessey was run-out in bizarre fashion at the strikers end. Sam Dando entered in at 3 and immediately set the tone, playing a number of sumptuous drives off the bowling of Blake. However, he was shortly bowled by fellow opening bowler, Barnes when looking set on 12 to leave Amesbury 30/2.

Jayden Atkinson and brother, Macauley Atkinson came in at 4 and 5 respectively, although their stay at the crease was short lived. The former picking out Bradwell at mid-off for 1 and latter, bowled for 0 - both off Blake.

With Amesbury 31/4, Dale Gower joined Underwood and looked to re-build. In seeing off Blake and Barnes, Underwood subsequently played a reckless shot and had his stumps removed off the introduced Bradwell to depart for 16.

Renshaw entered in at 7 and despite sustaining an injury, began to counter in partnership with Gower. Through a combination of delicate placement and punishing any bad deliveries, they accumulated runs at a healthy rate to leave Amesbury 111/5 at the end of the 31st over.

However, in the 32nd over, the pendulum swung back in favour of Mottisfont with Renshaw given out caught behind off Gribbell for a well made 36. Andy White joined Gower and continued to exert pressure on Mottisfont, pinching singles and rotating the strike with relative ease. Gower, gaining confidence after a previously slow start to the season with the bat, played a number of powerful strokes to edge Amesbury back into contention.

Just as Amesbury were edging themselves into the game, White agonisingly picked out Blake at the deep mid-off boundary to depart for 7, whilst Dobson finding Husbands at deep-mid on for 1, both off Gribbell to leave Amesbury 153/8. Amesbury's lack of depth again proved costly, as although Gower reached a well deserved 50, his valiant effort at the crease proved no reward as Kian Smith and Gavin Burkwood, despite both battling hard were removed to close Amesbury's innings on 171 and result in Mottisfont being victorious by 30 runs. Gower finishing on an excellent unbeaten 63 not out.

Pick of Mottisfont's bowlers were Blake (2/21) and Gribbell (3/51).

Amesbury will look to bounce back next weekend, when they welcome Hursley Park at their Archers Gate home.