STALBRIDGE 201 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 203-7 (20pts) by three wickets

MARTINSTOWN survived a wobbly start to their reply to chase down 202 at Stalbridge and record their third Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League victory in succession.

After winning the toss and batting, Stalbridge lost their top three batsmen relatively cheaply as Josh York (12), James Lewis (27) and George Coleman (8) fell to Matt Camp (2-38), Teddy Andrews (2-31) and Monty Payne (1-15) respectively.

The hosts rebuilt from 64-3 with a 59-run stand between Stuart Sweatman (23) and Chris Hedges (24), before 44 from Seb Carty helped Stalbridge to 201 as fine bowling from Ryan Chase (3-49) and George Pope (2-39) restricted their total.

In reply, Steve Forshaw (1-29) found Ed Nichols’ (9) outside edge before Simon Sweatman (1-25) castled Payne (2) as Martinstown were reduced to 30-2.

Left-arm chinaman Andy Dike (3-44) then tore through the visitors’ middle order after Sean Williams (34) and Pope (37) had made headway, Dike also bowling Andrews (0) for 95-5.

Martinstown’s position worsened to 112-6 when Will Maltby (8) was stumped off Ollie Legg (2-39), but the assured batting of Chase (47no) and Camp (32no), aided by 19 from Fraser Hill, eased the away side home with 20 balls to spare.

Speaking to Echosport following the triumph, Nichols expressed his faith in what he felt was a strong batting line-up.

He said: “We were blessed with a lot of depth in the batting and I knew the guys could score quickly.

“Matt’s been in really good form and Ryan scored a hundred the last time he played.

“We’ve made a good habit of chasing.”

Nichols added: “We bowled well, the pitch had quite a lot in it. We were asking questions and beating the outside edge quite a lot.

“The spinners did well in the middle – particularly in the last 15 overs and it kept us well in the game.

“We had a good plan – similar to the Swanage game – we knew what we were doing and it’s nice to have confidence in the guys lower in the order.”

Victory elevates Martinstown into fourth after Broadstone’s three-wicket loss at Poole Town.

This week, Nichols’ men host Bere Regis for a derby at Lower Ashton Farm.

Elsewhere, Martinstown Seconds suffered a rare loss to Cerne Valley Seconds, going down by 27 runs. The Villagers remain second in County Division Five.

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