ASTON Rowant slipped to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of Dinton in their opening Division 2 clash of the campaign.

Despite a good start in both innings’, the hosts let it slip, failing to score enough runs before allowing Dinton to recover from 28-3.

Richard Cook (53) and Tim Morgan (34) put on 94 for the opening wicket for Rowant, before Cook was stumped by Neil Roberts off Saif Zaib.

Morgan followed shortly afterwards and Chris Watling did not add to the score before he was bowled by Zaib as Rowant slipped to 102-3.

Josh Smith stood firm at one end, but wickets tumbled regularly at the other.

Smith was unbeaten on 52 as Rowant failed to build on a good opening by closing on 192-9 off their 50 overs.

They made an impressive start with the ball, however, as Tom Needham bowled Brian Sanders and South African import Andrew Dyer dismissed Ashley Smith and Henry Woodward.

Dinton recovered, with opener Zaib holding up one end, but were 75-4 when Neil Roberts was caught by Daniel Matthews off Richard Cook.

Chris Watling then had Mark Ludlow taken by Lewis Quainton and at 121-5, the game was in the balance.

However, Zaib and Alister Gibbins put on 43 for the sixth wicket before Zaib was bowled by Dyer for 69.

But skipper Gibbins saw the job through, finishing unbeaten on 46 off just 29 balls as Rowant were beaten.