SWINDON slumped to a second successive defeat when they went down to Worcestershire side Colwall at the County Ground on Saturday.

Acting skipper Darren Beasant lost the toss and Swindon were asked to bowl first on a very flat-looking wicket.

Swindon's seamers struggled to find any rhythm early on and the Colwall opening pair of Wolfendale and Pakistani import Majeed were able to get the innings off to a flying start with Majeed in particular looking in fine form.

Willoughby replaced Stinchcombe and despite bowling a better length he was also unable to stem the flow of runs with Colwall reaching 90-0 by the end of the 15th over.

With runs continuing to flow from one end Colwall looked set for a huge total and were 154-0 after 27 overs. Part-time bowler John Baden followed Willoughby from the football ground end, and this reaped immediate rewards with Wolfendale being bowled for a fine 60.

Swindon were finally able to reduced the Colwall scoring rate and frustration got the better of Majeed who fell caught and bowled to John Baden.

Fox, Stinchcombe and Willoughby all returned to close the innings and, thanks to a fine second half effort, Swindon managed to restrict Colwall to 249 from their allotted 50 overs.

Swindon's reply began well with Paul Baden and Australian Brett Sydney-Smith keeping Swindon near the required rate of five an over.

Swindon looked to be building a good platform from which to challenge the visitors' total before two wickets fell in quick succession with Sydney-Smith and John Baden both being adjudged, possibly unluckily, lbw.

This brought Beasant to the crease and following a period of consolidation the Swindon pair looked to up the scoring rate before Baden fell, caught sweeping, for a well-constructed 44.

Matt Baker settled in quickly, and with some positive stroke play he enabled Swindon to stay in touch with the required rate which by now had reached a run a ball.

When Baker departed, Andy Staff came to the crease and, with some good running between the wickets and the occasional lusty blow, Swindon continued to achieve the required rate.

With seven overs remaining Swindon needed 48 to win and with Beasant and Staff at the crease looked to be in a winning position.

Beasant was run out for 44, attempting a suicidal single, and when Staff fell shortly after completing a fine half century, Swindon's hopes rested on Simon Barnett and the big-hitting of Roger Willoughby.

But Willoughby fell to a fine catch in the deep, and despite Barnett's best effort to maintain the run rate, Swindon were all out in the last over for 240, nine runs short of their target.

Swindon will be encouraged by another good fielding display and particularly by the form shown by their middle order.

However on the whole they will be severely diappointed not to have picked up the win, having worked hard to get themselves into another winning position.