BERE REGIS 143 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 159 (7pts) by 16 runs

MARTINSTOWN edged a tight derby to bag their first away win of the season in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

The win means Martinstown can boast three wins out of four games so far this season, while the defeat was Bere’s third in four games.

The hosts won the toss and elected to field and initially Martinstown struggled with the bat.

Lee House was bowled by Matt King with 35 runs on the board to rock Martinstown early on.

King then struck again as Sean Williams was caught by the bowler with the away side having put five more runs on the board.

Sam Kershaw was then trapped lbw with Martinstown on 54-3 before Ryan Chase was caught by Robert Murphy with the away side 62-4.

However, Martinstown then shored up and managed to stop the relative rot and secure 37 more runs on the board before skipper Ed Nichols was run-out having scored 15 runs.

Martinstown were unable to put further runs on before disaster struck again very shortly after as Will Maltby was then bowled by Tim Goodhew.

Goodhew put in a good performance for Bere as he helped take four of Martinstown’s latter wickets.

Gary King caught Jamie Howard off one of Goodhew’s efforts, before Goodhew bowled Mike Kennedy-Barnard for a duck while Crispin Read caught Chris Read from Goodhew’s bowling.

As a result of the latter, Martinstown were bowled out for 159 at the change of innings.

Martinstown’s bowlers started well and Rob Cole was caught by Sean Williams from Matt Camp’s attack with just eight runs on the board.

Bere put 20 runs on before their other opener Matt King was trapped lbw, and Bere were finding it hard to get some batting rhythm, with Robert Murphy getting caught by Will Maltby with Bere on 46-3.

Nick White then was trapped lbw from a Kennedy-Barnard ball 11 runs later.

Bere managed to hold firm and put a further 29 on the board before Kershaw caught Goodhew.

Griffiths was then caught and bowled by Ryan Chase one run later.

Kershaw bowled Garry King to put an end to the partnership of Richard Cole and King that had accrued 33 to put Bere on 122-8 and closing in on Martinstown’s total.

However, Crispin Brown caught Chris Read with Bere trailing by 21 and, four runs later, Brian Keegan was trapped lbw to end Bere’s hopes.

Martinstown captain Ed Nichols said: “It was a really, tough gritty game, which are the sort of games which when you come out on top of it is really, really rewarding because we pushed right down until the end.

“I think both teams bowled and fielded really well so that probably made it a low-scoring game.

“It was a bit of a dogfight but we are really pleased to come out on top of it.”

Bere captain Rich Cole said: “It was a close finish, it was just a shame to be on the wrong side of the winning line unfortunately.

“I thought our tail wagged well and gave Martinstown a bit of a fright towards the end. I thought we applied ourselves pretty well but we unfortunately just ran out of wickets.”

Asked whether he thought his side were going to go on and win it late on, Cole admitted: “Absolutely, the game was there for us to win.

“I thought Martinstown’s spinners bowled really well, once we had seen them off I certainly fancied our chances.

“Unfortunately we just did not have enough fuel in the tank to get us over the line.”