MARTINSTOWN 194 (19pts) beat DORCHESTER 117 (6pts) by 77 runs

SAM Kershaw ploughed through the Dorchester top five to set Martinstown on their way to a 77-run win at Lower Ashton Farm in the Dorset Premier League.

Seamer Kershaw came in for praise from home skipper Ed Nichols after taking the wickets of Sean Fitzgerald, Nick Roe, Dan Morris, Marcus Evans and visiting captain Simon Mitchem.

Only Evans (38) really got to grips with the Martinstown attack as the county town outfit were bowled out for just 117 in reply to the hosts’ 194.

“Sam’s spell was massively important,” said Nichols. “We were a few bowlers light so it was crucial that he knocked over their top five batsmen.

“Sam’s a strike bowler and although he might go for four or five an over he will take wickets.

“We knew we had to bowl them out and he really produced the goods.”

Nichols added: “I thought we threw away wickets in our innings but we were fairly happy with 190-odd and would have taken that before the toss.

“We had a really good start when we bowled and kept the pressure on, and then Sam did what he did.”

Batting first, the home side were grateful to their top order for getting them close to 200.

Nichols (23) and Matt Camp (32) made crucial runs but it was Steve Gerety, with 62, who stood out.

And Dorchester’s response nearly got off to the worst possible start when Fitzgerald was dropped at gully off the first ball of the innings.

But it wasn’t long before Kershaw (5-42) took over, clean bowling three of his five victims.

The rest of the Dorchester batting line up struggled as both Nichols (2-35) and Chris Read (2-27) took two wickets each, while Joe Power was run out.

Giving his verdict on the match, Mitchem said: “We didn’t bowl as well as we have been and we dropped three catches.

“We bowled too many four balls and it would have been nice to have kept them to around 170 rather than 194.

“We had a good start with the bat but just didn’t go on to produce the goods.

“Even though we were under strength we still had some good players playing which is why it’s frustrating.”

Meanwhile, in County Division Three, Dorchester Seconds lost to Ashmore by 64 runs.

Martinstown Seconds were beaten at Bradford Abbas by five wickets in Division Five.