CRICKET: Demons return to haunt Dorchester

THE batting demons that plagued Dorchester so often last season returned to haunt them on Saturday.

Captain Dan Belt was understandably disappointed at the way his side failed to chase down a fairly modest target.

It appeared that Dorchester had done the hard work by restricting their hosts to 155 with Pete Moxom, James Dunham and Dan Morris all claiming three wick-ets.

However, the visitors were unable to build any partnerships in reply and limped to 127 all out for their first defeat of the campaign in Premier League Two.

“It was very disappointing,” said skipper Belt. “Too many players gave their wickets away and there were a few decisions that went against us, but that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that batsmen got themselves out.

“Poor batting has cost us, just like last year. I was hoping we weren’t going to produce those kind of performances again but we have. It was maybe a bit of complacency on our part with players thinking they could score off every ball because it was a good wicket.”

Dorchester had to field first after losing the toss but they had the home side in real trouble with three early wickets.

They thought they had snared a fourth with a run-out but the umpire ruled in favour of the hosts and the batsman involved went on to make a decent score.

Belt added: “I can’t grumble with the bowling and fielding, I thought we would be able to chase 156 to win.

“Pete Moxom, Quinton Miller and Fergus Guppy all got starts but gave their wickets away.

“The lower order chipped in here and there but wickets fell at both ends and we never got a big partnership going.

“We have to accept they outplayed us on the day though nine times out of 10 we would have chased that target.

“The problems we had last season seem to be coming back but we’ll try to work on that with a good nets session this week ahead of our next game.

“We’ll want to put our foot down and look like a side that can win matches and not slump to 127 all out.”