Dunmow suffered back-to-back Two Counties Cricket Championship Division Two defeats for the first time this season after they fell 55 runs short of Easton on Saturday.

Easton won the toss and decided to bat first but three quick wickets from Josh Down (3-19) soon put the pressure on the home team as they slipped to 31-3.

Down was a whisker away from picking up a fourth wicket as the ball somehow missed the stumps with batsman Cantrell (58) looking to now make the most of his fortune.

Well supported by the rest of the hosts’ middle order, Dunmow struggled to make the early pressure pay as Easton pressed on to a very useful total of 223-7. Baz Sewell continued his early season form with 3-78 from 15 overs.

The Dunmow reply got off to a great start with Luke Swanston (21) and Joe Gallant (41) taking a liking to the opening bowling attack, but it was the introduction of the Easton spin bowling that was to again be Dunmow’s donwfall as the impressive Wells claimed 6-41 from 15 overs.

There were useful contributions from Oli Rooney (29), Down (22) and Paul Reid (14), but none of these could push on to make a match-winning contribution as Dunmow posted 168 all out. The Edmunds Lane side slip to eighth following the loss.

On Saturday Dunmow face fellow strugglers Exning in a match both teams will be desperate to win to kickstart their faltering seasons.