TONY Shama's 84 was not enough to prevent Bassett slipping to a two-wicket defeat in their Gloucestershire Wilts Division One outing on Saturday.

Put into bat, the returning Shama and Paul Elliott opened the batting. Elliott was out in the third over but South African Richie Nienaber and Shama began to repair the damage in difficult batting conditions.

The score had moved on to 24 when Nienaber was excellently caught off the bowling of Siddons. John Clarke and Jug Chahal followed and at that stage Bassett were wobbling on 38-4.

Neil Twine and then Clark joined Shama before Chattel came to the wicket with the score at 114 for six in the 39th over. They produced a useful 50-run partnership before Shama was out for a vital 84, with Chattel there at the end on 29 not out to see Bassett to a respectable 183 for eight from their allotted 50 overs.

Hatherley's reply was slow and steady and made more difficult by the impressive opening spells of Smith and Stevens.

Stevens dismissed Staff for two. and in the 14th over Bray was run out by an impressive piece of work from Chahal.

The game was finely poised going into the latter stages, but left-hander Nally tipped the balance in favour of the Gloucestershire side as he began to unleash one or two big shots.

He was particularly severe on Steve Twine but he responded by having Nally caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Clark for 33.

Gorick weighed in with a steady 32 and it was just left to Siddons to see them home in the 49th over, with two wickets in hand. Steve Twine was the pick of the Bassett bowling, finishing with three for 44 from his 11 overs.