DORCHESTER 250-8 (20pts) beat SWANAGE 92 (4pts) by 158 runs

DORCHESTER rebounded from last week’s final-ball loss at Stalbridge with a 158-run thumping of Swanage in their Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League clash at the Rec.

Home captain James Dunham won the toss and asked Swanage to field, but Mike Hernandez (2-63) bowled Quenton Miller (0) second ball as the hosts made a rocky start.

Fellow opener Dan Morris accumulated runs with Simon Mitchem (26), who hit five boundaries before edging Steve Kent (1-35) behind.

At 53-2, Morris was unnerved and passed 50 alongside Eral Anderson (33) and Dan Belt (27) as Dorchester moved on to 198-4.

Morris’ superb knock was finally crowned with a century from 134 balls, including 14 fours and two sixes, until he became Hernandez’s second victim having amassed 110 runs.

Ben Macklin (17) and Josh Richardson (10) added late runs as Dorchester registered 250-8 from 50 overs, Ryan Norman (3-50) returning to pick up three wickets from his second spell.

In reply, Dorchester’s opening bowlers Belt (2-20) and Dunham (5-25) took a combined 7-45 as the Swans’ top and middle order was obliterated by the hosts’ astonishing start.

Only Craig Wells (23) and Mike Hernandez (26) made 20 or above, while the economical Jack Walklett (2-15) helped mop up the tail as Swanage were sent packing for 92 all out.

Speaking to Echosport following the victory, Dunham described Morris as “a man in form”.

He said: “Dan’s been batting at five or six but we’re trying him out with opening the batting.

“He’s definitely a man in form, he’s hitting the ball nicely and it’s great when an opening batsman scores a hundred.

“We batted quite deep and all chipped in, but Dan’s the star and batted really well.”

Dunham believes the middle order contributing to the total helped push the score to 250.

He said: “It’s the difference between 180 and 250, a bit of a psychological edge. When you bat first you speak about the score you want and we said 250 and got that exactly. We backed up Dan’s 100 and batted round him.”

Commenting on his fifer, Dunham added: “I feel in a bit of form, it’s nice to get a few wickets. Dan (Belt) bowled very well – we got seven wickets between us.

“It helps when you’ve got a side 50-7, we’ve got all angles covered, especially when you’re bringing in Simon as your fifth bowler.”

n Dorchester Seconds 157-6 (20pts) beat Corfe Mullen 156 (6pts) by four wickets in County Division Three.

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