WAREHAM 167 (7pts) beat CHARLTON DOWN 249-7 (20pts) by 82 runs

CHAMPIONS Charlton Down returned to winning ways with a comfortable County Division Four victory over Wareham in very blustery conditions.

Batting first, Charlton started cautiously against some tight bowling from Sam Axon and Martin Upshall. Axon struck first having Jack Eveleigh caught at point for 14 with the score on 31-1.

A second-wicket partnership of 82 in only 12 overs between Jae Miller (79) and Nick Voss (37) gave the platform for the rest of the innings.

Voss continued his good season form with the bat driving two big sixes before top edging a pull to the grateful hands of Reece Whitty at cover off Ashley Hayes for 37, with the score on 113-2.

Whitty then struck in the next over to remove Javed Gill without adding to the score.

Roger Frapwell (18) joined Miller and settled the innings with a well-constructed partnership of 49 before being trapped leg before by Whitty with the score on 162-4 this soon became 162-5 when Miller was run out for 79, attempting a third run with a direct hit.

Miller’s return to form included a two-hour stay at the crease, one six and nine fours.

Miller showed great patience and excellent running between the wicket early in his innings and his trademark driving was in full flow.

The departure of Miller brought Matt and Dan Stevens to the crease and the brothers decided to increase the scoring rate and take the game away from Wareham.

Matt Stevens pounced on any thing short or over pitched cruising to his 50 with an elegant drive to the cover boundary, in only 32 balls including 10 fours.

Instinctive running between the wickets hurried the score on to 211 before Dan Stevens was bowled for 16 by Hayes (3-65).

Matt Stevens closed on 51 not out and was helped by the aggressive Sid Dunford who produced his trademark Chinese cut to get off the mark followed by a delightful leg glance to the square leg boundary and brought the innings to a close on 249-7.

The Wareham innings started briskly with the impressive opening pair of Jamie White (45) and Ashley Hayes (65) finding the boundary at regular intervals.

With the scores fairly similar at the halfway stage it was the introduction of spin which saw Kim Park snap up White with a fantastic catch down the legside by wicketkeeper Rob Deadman with the score on 79-1. This became 93-2 when Jack Eveleigh made a fine running catch off Park to dismiss Axon for six.

A dangerous looking partnership between the impressive Hayes and Martin Upshall was ended when Jae Miller came on and claimed 2-3 in only three overs.

The double change of Marc Spurway (2-14) who picked up

the all-important wicket of Hayes for 65, including eight fours,

when Deadman caught another low diving catch behind the stumps.

Wareham had slumped from 132-2 to 139-6 and swung the result towards Charlton Down.

Kim Park returned to pick up a further two wickets with well-judged catches in the deep by Matt and Dan Stevens and finish with 4-51 from his eight overs.

It was left to leading wicket-taker Dan Stevens (2-24) to pick up the last two wickets and return his side to winning ways.