MARTINSTOWN 218-8 (19pts) beat PARLEY 104 (5pts) by 114 runs

MATT Camp starred with both bat and ball for Martinstown as they secured a comfortable victory at Parley to go joint top of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

After the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first, skipper Ed Nichols (40) and fellow opener Lee House (44) set a good platform with a partnership of 66 for the first wicket.

Despite the Martinstown middle order struggling, having been reduced to 151-8, Camp produced a blistering unbeaten 58 batting at nine with five fours and two sixes coming from 48 deliveries.

That enabled the away side to post 218-8 from their 50 overs.

Camp then took a liking to the Parley batting order with the ball after the interval as he ripped through four of the top seven batsmen to return figures of 4-29 from 10 overs.

That helped Martinstown skittle the home side out for just 104 in just more than 41 overs, securing their first victory away from home this season.

Speaking about Camp’s performance, Martinstown captain Nichols told Echosport: “He had a great day, he is always good to have on the team sheet and we are pleased to have him back. He had a really good impact.

“He is a key player for us. It was good that he had a good day and hopefully it boosts his enthusiasm for cricket again.”

There were also two wickets apiece for Chris Read (2-17) and James Pickering (2-21) and Nichols was delighted by the consistency his attack showed.

“I think the discipline with the ball was very good,” he added.

“To come from where we were two weeks ago, get through our overs, keep it tight and keep the pressure on them was the biggest thing.”

The result gives Nichols’ side 48 points from their opening three league outings, putting them on top of the pile with the same number of points as Wimborne & Colehill.

Also during the game, Parley seamer Kelly Gauci, who has come over from Australia as an overseas player, claimed her first wickets in the Dorset League with 2-24 from nine overs bowled.

Gauci is also set to play for the Dorset Ladies side this summer.