On a pleasant, sunny day, Brent travelled to Ashburton to find a hard, flat pitch ­waiting. Winning the toss, Brent elected to bowl first.

Opener M Churchill looked good from the start as he saw off the tight opening spells

of Daniels (0-26) and Willoughby.

With no movement in the air or off the pitch, it was obvious it would be hard work for the bowlers and once in a batsman could expect runs.

Willoughby picked up Mole (2) lbw and coming on first change Cooper (1-27) got Daman (4). Glen then got Bell (0) to a sharp catch by Willoughby at Gully.

Brent were keeping it tight and kept picking up wickets.

At the other end, though, M Churchill was making merry as he smashed plenty to the leg side boundary and hit some lovely drives. Jarman hit a nice 27 before Glen (2-33) yorked him. M Churchill racked up a massive 125 before retiring.

Lewis (1-46) bowled J Churchill for 14, while Willoughby (2-30) got Wilson bowled as Ashburton finished on 197 for seven. Cranch (0-33) bowled a good long spell of containing off spin to help keep the score down.

Given the good batting ­conditions the score looked about par.

Chasing, Brent got off to a poor start. They were soon 14–3 as Cranch was unluckily pinned lbw to one that kept low from Higgs, while Lannin was run out by some sharp fielding. Then Malpass toe-ended a wide ball to cover from Wilson (1-22).

The fightback was carried by Lewis and Carnell, though, as the pair put on an 85-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Lewis scored 71 with a ­sensational return to form. Cracking some trademark powerful extra cover drives, and punishing anything remotely loose, it was a dominating innings by Lion King Lewis.

Carnell played a superb and diligent supporting role, with a sound defence combined with some punchy drives, as well as swashbuckling square cuts to help keep the score ticking over.

Brent were well up with the run rate before Lewis fell, bowled by Churchill, with the score on 101.

Eventually Carnell (15) went, bowled by the accurate pace of Bell. At 116-5 in only the 21st over, though, Brent were in a good position.

Hodgson (6) came in and looked good before Bell (2-37) bowled him and Saunter had a confident swagger as he smashed a quick 10 before the pacey Ashburton skipper Jarman got him caught.

Cooper went for a duck to Jarman, and on 138-8 Ashburton had upped the intensity and were suddenly favourites again.

Daniels looked as if he ­fancied seeing the job through, though, as he hit a classy-looking 13 before Jarman (3-15) bowled him.

Ashburton soon finished the job off when Glen fell to Higgs (2-16), Willougby was left two not out and Brent were bowled out for 154 in the 30th over.

Once again a promising winning position was let down by Brent's brittle batting line-up.