Royston (182-6) lost to Yelling (189-7) by seven runs. ROYSTON Cricket Club remains second from bottom of the CCA Senior League Two after a thrilling climax saw them slip just short in a rain-affected game at Yelling. Royston won the toss and elected to f

Royston (182-6) lost to Yelling (189-7) by seven runs.

ROYSTON Cricket Club remains second from bottom of the CCA Senior League Two after a thrilling climax saw them slip just short in a rain-affected game at Yelling.

Royston won the toss and elected to field first in light rain and Naveed Ahmed struck twice in his second, a brace which including the dismissal of Alan Johnson for 18 courtesy of an excellent catch from skipper Matt Graham that threatened to drift over his head.

Topham was also caught, this time behind by John Bason, but 20 runs were also hit from the over before play was suspended due to heavier rain.

When play resumed on a stick wicket, Toby Fynn took three wickets and in doing so carved open the Yelling middle order through the trapping of Walker lbw and drawing two catches to remove Aaron Johnson and Richard Mead.

Ashley Judge supported well from the other end, arrowing in searching deliveries, but it was the fielding that let Royston down.

Clarke was dropped twice allowing him to target the short boundary with a succession of boundaries as he went on to score 73 before he fell to a Hootton slower ball which was skied and dropped for Jamie Warren to take a running catch, and the hosts managed to reach 188 in their decreased 40 overs losing seven wickets in the process.

Requiring 4.7 runs an over, Royston begun their reply confidently with Matt Graham looking in good nick once he got a read on the lively, damp pitch.

Jamie Warren fell after nine overs for 11 bringing Paul Miller to the crease but after struggling to find the gaps from poor deliveries the pair began to flow with Miller slapping one particularly colossal six.

Royston looked on course to meet the target of 189 but Miller found Walker with an aerial shot from Mead for 46, and Ashley Judge took over where Miller left off after Ahmed was run out for two, bludgeoning 22 to put the Crows on 155 for four wickets after 35 overs.

Needing just under seven per over from the last five, Royston lost their way.

David Boddy clipped a boundary before he was unfortunate to drag a wide back onto his off stump for five and Neil Addison, typically the danger man in similar situations, struggled to find the middle of the bat in his 12.

There was also little that Bason could do as Royston failed to find the eight runs needed in the last over for victory.

Royston will be disappointed to lose to a side down there with them in the lower reaches of League two having looked comfortable with handful of overs remaining.

In an otherwise decent fielding performance it was probably the dropped catches that allowed Yelling to eek out the winning total.

Milton are up next at home before the Keatley Cup final for Royston.