MARTINSTOWN 183 (8pts) lost to STALBRIDGE 242 (20pts) by 59 runs

MARTINSTOWN’S quest for a second win in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League this season goes on as they were undone by Stalbridge at Lower Ashton Farm.

An impressive display by all-rounder Rob Willway, with figures of 3-39 with the ball and 88 with the bat, was still not enough, as the visitors proved too much for Ed Nichols’ men on a scorching afternoon.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Stalbridge were given a leg-up by the hosts, who dropped both openers in Stuart Sweatman (57) and Joe Lewis (40), who put on 103 for the first wicket.

And, despite Willway’s efforts and a high-quality spell from spinner Ryan Chase (2-17) on his return to the Martinstown side, Stalbridge put themselves in the box seat, scoring 242 all out from 49.3 overs.

Skipper Nichols told Echosport: “Obviously they won the toss and batted on a hot day and the wicket played well, but we did let them get off to a flyer. Dropped catches again early on cost us.

“Putting down Sweatman early on, he is one of those players who has hurt us in the past. The guy at the other end was dropped three or four times – we let them settle and they built a partnership.

“It’s a difficult one, like I said last week, nobody drops them on purpose but when they go to hand it makes such a difference to not give them a second chance.

“But having Ryan Chase being back is fantastic for us, he completely locked the game down and Rob Willway bowled very well from the other end.”

In reply, Willway and Chase (24) both backed up their efforts with the ball by being the top two scorers with the bat in the home line-up.

But, with Steve Forshaw in fine form to claim 5-21 from 7.4 overs, Martinstown were always struggling to make their victory target, and were eventually bowled out for 183 off just 35.4 overs.

“Steve Forshaw is a good bowler, he bends his back to get a good amount off the surface. On a flat wicket he did very well to get that life out of the track,” Nichols added.

“I was pleased with how we re-grouped and Rob Willway played a fantastic knock.

“He is working in Weymouth for the summer. I played a bit with him at university, he is a very good all-rounder and hopefully, when he is available he will boost us in both disciplines, as he showed in this game.”

On the contest as a whole, the skipper added: “I’m just a little bit frustrated because probably the three points that lost us the game were the same points from last week. Which is catches, giving away extras and not batting 50 overs, it’s a shame to make the same mistakes two weeks in a row.”

Defeat means Martinstown remain second from bottom in the league table, 18 points clear of Shillingstone.