AN unbroken 178-run partnership between Luke Swanston and Oli Rooney led Dunmow to a resounding 9-wicket victory against Copford last Saturday.

Dunmow knew they had to maintain their good form with bat and ball to keep apace with their promotion rivals.

Copford opted to bat first. For the fourth consecutive game Matt Gibson took a wicket in his very first over – that of opener Simpson for a duck – to give his side the ideal start.

Copford’s second-wicket duo scored 30 battling runs before they were removed in quick succession by Gibson and Josh Down.

The visitors struggled with the pace and movement of Down, who was unfortunate not to better his 1-11 from 7 overs. The ever-dependable Gibson finished with 2-23 from 9 overs.

A brief resurgence from Copford’s middle order was soon quelled by bowlers Steve Hamlin and Paul W Reid, and at 95-7 with 18 overs remaining the Copford innings looked to be reaching a hasty end.

But a responsible knock of 55 from Brett and some clean hitting from the tail enabled Copford to reach 177 all out from 43 overs, much to the chagrin of the hosts.

Hamlin bowled indefatigably to take 4-57 from 11 overs, while Reid collected 2-21.

Dunmow’s innings began almost identically to that of their opponents when Josh Down was caught behind without scoring.

The similarities ended there. Swanston and Rooney compiled 178 chanceless runs in under 30 overs to secure a third-straight win for Dunmow.

The pair dispatched a bowling attack of no fewer than nine members to all parts of St Edmunds Lane to finish 68 not out and 96 not out respectively.

The partnership, which included 26 fours and two sixes, is the highest for the second wicket by any Division Two side this season.

Dunmow are edging closer to clinching a promotion berth and will hope to extend their purple patch in the derby against Braintree this Saturday.