MARTINSTOWN 225 (20pts) beat SWANAGE 139 (7pts) by 86 runs

DAVE Herbert top-scored for Martinstown in a convincing Dorset Premier League victory at Swanage last weekend.

The first four of the visitors’ batsmen all made starts but it was Herbert who went on to make a half-century in his side’s total of 225 all out.

Herbert’s wicket was the eighth to fall when he was eventually run out on 60, just after Martinstown had passed the 200 mark.

And it was a sixth-wicket stand of 88 between Herbert and Matt Camp (28) that helped Ed Nichols’ men get to that figure.

Skipper Nichols, who won the toss and elected to bat, and fellow opener Henry Lewis put on 31 at the start of the Martinstown innings.

Nichols was caught by Jeremy Warner off Ryan Norman for 15, however, another 31 was added to the total when Sam Kershaw (26) joined Camp at the crease.

After Kershaw and then Liam Banfield were dismissed by Steve Kent, it was Herbert’s turn to take over and accelerate the scoring rate.

Dangerous Swanage bowler Norman did mop up the tail and finished with superb figures of 5-29, though Matt Rimmer’s (13) cameo gave Martinstown’s score a welcome boost towards the end of the innings.

After his useful knock alongside Herbert, Camp demonstrated his skills with the ball in the Swanage reply.

He took 4-26 in his 10 overs, including the scalps of three of the top four home batsmen.

Camp and Chris Read tore through the Swanage line-up and an early finish looked on the cards when the hosts were reduced to 64-8.

Ryan Chase also helped the cause with the wicket of Dan Salmon for six.

However, just as they seemed to be on the brink of defeat, Swanage staged something of a late comeback, though in reality they were never in a position to win the game.

The last three men scored more than half of their side’s total runs, with Kent contributing 24 and Norman an excellent 52.

That knock featured three boundaries and five sixes as Norman let loose with nothing to lose.

His was the last wicket to fall when he was caught by Tom Nicholls off Rimmer.

Elsewhere, Martinstown Seconds beat Chalke Valley by six wickets in County Division Five.

They visit league leaders Charlton Down this Saturday, while the first XI host Stalbridge in the top tier as they go for a third triumph of the season.