Swindon were beaten by 19 runs in a close- fought encounter against Gloucestershire side Colwall at the County Ground, with some dubious umpiring decisions ultimately deciding the fate of the game.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat and began cautiously against Pete Stinchcombe and 17 year old Gloucester prospect Tom Fox.

The opening pair of Wolfendale and Powell had taken the score to 21 in the sixth over before Nichols caught Wolfendale off the bowling of Fox for eight.

In his very next over, the youngster removed the other opener Powell, caught behind by Beasant for 10, to leave Colwall struggling at 22-2.

Riley and Ferguson then began the rebuilding job, batting in contrasting styles with Ferguson much the more dominant.

Nichols introduced himself and Hussain to the attack, but despite bowling with reasonable control they were unable to break the partnership as Colwall pair built a century stand.

Spinner Zohaib, who had replaced Hussain, bowled Riley for a patient 44 in the 40th over.

This platform proved crucial as, with wickets in hand, Colwall began to increase the tempo.

A total of 50 runs were added in the next six overs by Bamford and Ferugson, before Zohaib removed both batsman, Ferguson for an excellent 75.

Zohaib picked up two more wickets as the run chase went on, but Colwall finished on 208-8, with the spinner returning figures of 5-47 in 10 overs.

Swindon have rarely been successful in chasing such targets this season, but Beasant and John Baden began well, with the latter in particular dominating the Colwall attack.

The pair took the score to 60, before Baden was out lbw to Sutton in the 14th over. Hussain, batting higher up the order than normal, immediately smashed anything loose to the boundary, and despite the loss of Beasant for 24, Swindon were in the ascendancy.

The unlucky Paul Baden was then forced to retire hurt with a back injury following a quick single, but Hussain looked to have placed Swindon in a match-winning position with an excellent 54 of only 44 deliveries, before he was bowled by Hill, to leave the hosts on 135-3 with 20 overs remaining.

Swindon suffered a double blow soon after, as Baker was bowled by Sutton and Nichols was given outcontroversially stumped, and the face of the game had suddenly changed with Swindon effectively six wickets down for 139.

Cock added a quickfire 16, before he was the victim of a second questionable decision, adjudged lbw, and Fox followed soon after with Swindon 45 runs short.

Zohaib hit a couple of lusty blows before he was bowled by Bennett, but the last wicket pair of Tucker and Stinchcombe gave Swindon hope as they brought the target within 20 runs.

The chase was ended when Stinchombe fell victim to another debatable umpiring decision, given out stumped with five overs remaining, leaving Swindon licking their wounds after a second successive Glos/Wilts defeat.