MARTINSTOWN 127 (6pts) lost to STALBRIDGE 210 (19pts) by 83 runs

HOSTS Martinstown were left to ponder what went wrong after their run chase fell flat against Stalbridge at Lower Ashton Farm.

Despite dropping chances after the visiting side won the toss and chose to bat, skipper Ed Nichols’ charges were relatively confident of chasing their winning target of 211 at the break, as Martinstown eventually bowled Stalbridge out in 46 overs.

Chris Read (1-27) and Matt Camp (3-25) performed positively with the new ball for the Lower Ashton Farm side and Sam Kershaw (3-57) also chipped in with three wickets.

But the home team struggled to dislodge Stalbridge opener Stuart Sweatman.

He racked up by far the biggest individual total of the contest, with 92 runs coming from 104 deliveries.

“We bowled very well,” said skipper Nichols.

“Particularly Matt Camp and Chris Read with the new ball, but we dropped chances which let them build a very big third-wicket partnership. That was what cost us the game.

“If we had caught well we could have been looking at chasing 150 or below and it would have been a very different game.

“That’s what let them get to 210, which is still below par and we should be chasing that.”

With the bat, Nichols himself was dismissed for 11 when he was trapped leg before and opening partner Steve Gerety went without scoring.

Wickets continued to tumble as Martinstown found themselves 76-7, and although Teddy Andrews (29) boosted the total batting at number nine, the home side were dismissed inside 28 overs, 83 runs short of the Stalbridge total.

Nichols added: “If we bat first at our ground I’m sure we normally get that score.

“I think six of our top seven were out either playing across the line or going back when they should have got forward, so there are some technical things we are working on this week.

“It’s a mentality thing as well and it’s how we go about chasing.”

The defeat leaves Martinstown sixth in the league standings with two wins coming from their opening five top-flight fixtures.

They travel to bottom side Weymouth this Saturday.