CORSHAM’S hopes of survival in Premier One were dealt another blow on Saturday when they fell to a four-wicket defeat to Bedminster.

As if an 11th defeat of the campaign was not hard enough to swallow for skipper Ashur Morrison, news when they returned to the dressing from of second-from-bottom Frocester recording a two-wicket success at home to Downend and third-from-bottom Potterne winning away to second-placed Clevedon dealt a further blow.

Corsham now sit 37 points adrift at the foot of the table, with just three games of the season remaining and know they must win at least two of those upcoming fixtures to stand any chance of catching Frocester.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, few could forgive Morrison for fearing he was in for another long day when opener Steve Bullen fell for a first-ball duck off the bowling of Richard Sillars.

However, that brought the skipper to the crease and he set about building some firmer foundations alongside Charley Reed, who went for 27 off 26 balls.

With Romano Esau coming in, Corsham began to turn the screw, as they were able to put on a third-wicket stand of 124, with the hosts on 160 when Morrison was eventually dismissed for 70, caught by Garreth Elphick.

With Esau having only just marked his half-century, he continued to be the mainstay in Corsham’s innings, with Sam Collier and Will Wales both returning to the pavilion without a run to their name.

Corsham were able to bat out their 50 overs, with Esau finishing on an unbeaten 117 off 137 balls to set Bedminster a sizeable target of 262.

In reply, Corsham got off to a steady, if unspectacular, start with the ball in hand, James Arney taking the early wickets of Elphick (nine) and Miles Hammond (31).

However, with Joe Millard being stumped with just one run to his name, that brought Saiprasad Sudarshan Kamuni to the centre and he partnered Ron Cuncliffe well as their fifth-wicket stand of 188 brought the visitors to within touching distance of the total before the latter was caught behind by Reed three runs short of his century.

Despite Sillars falling for a duck, Kamuni (106) was able to see his side over the line with 10 balls to spare and condemn Morrison’s side to another defeat, with things looking bleak at the bottom of Premier One.