SHERBORNE 252-7 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 152-5 (15pts) on faster run rate

MARTINSTOWN halted a streak of five losses with an impressive win away to Sherborne in their rain-affected Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League battle.

Sherborne had threatened to post a score in excess of 300 when centurion Marc Lock (100) and Daniel Baker (50) upped the pace in the middle overs, but Martinstown fought back to restrict the hosts to 252 from 50 overs.

Martinstown’s rain-affected innings was reduced to 30 overs but the required run-rate of five an over did not alter.

Captain Ed Nichols played the anchor role with 68 and was ably assisted by the positive Sean Williams (22) but when Nichols was caught and bowled by Mark Hancock (1-27) to leave the visitors on 127-4, it was left to Matt Camp (25no) to play a pivotal role in seeing the win out.

Chris Read (2-44) had earlier made a good start, bowling Hancock for a duck before removing Emlyn Kuhn (23) to leave Sherborne on 44-2.

But the introduction of Lock to the crease troubled the away side and he put on 110 for the fourth wicket with Baker until Camp (2-59) ended their fluent stand.

Lock was run out soon after reaching triple figures and Martinstown continued the fightback with tight bowling from Nathan McNab (0-19).

Rain shortened the length of Martinstown’s innings but Sherborne were made to pay for dropping Nichols three times as the left-hander made 68.

A slight wobble, with Kuhn (3-27) ousting Williams, Sam Kershaw (7) and Ryan Chase (16) did not prevent Martinstown from winning as Camp picked up where Nichols left off to enable his side to record a vital victory.

Speaking to Echosport post-match, Nichols was grateful for a turnaround in luck.

He said: “Obviously the rain gods smiled on us and maybe that was the change in fortune we needed on a couple of occasions this season. Hopefully that will be the result that turns things around.

“The rain certainly did us no harm the way it worked out.”

Nichols was full of praise for his batsmen, who showed “a bit of nous” during the chase.

“The quality in depth really came through, it was only a matter of time. I had a few reprieves and was dropped three times but we showed a bit of nous.

“The way we approached it was very pleasing. All the decisions we made were good and Matt Camp finishing the way he did was fantastic,” he said.

Martinstown now lie eighth in the table, two points above Shroton and 24 clear of bottom side Shillingstone.

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