MARTINSTOWN 109 (4pts) lost to WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 255-6 (20pts) by 146 runs

MARTINSTOWN suffered a torrid time at the hands of reigning champions Wimborne & Colehill as they lost by 146 runs in their battle at Lower Ashton Farm.

Set 256 to win after a fluent 76 by opening batsman Colin Randall, Ed Nichols’ men made a good start at 54-0 but then lost all 10 wickets for just 55 runs as spinner Tom Caines showed his class with outstanding figures of 7-33.

Despite a good bowling and fielding performance the hosts struggled to contain the impressive visitors throughout.

Wimborne won the toss and batted first, compiling a solid 98-1 at the halfway stage, before Mark House (53) and James Miller (39no) picked up where Randall left off to register a total above five an over.

In reply, Nichols (29) combined well with Sean Williams (14) to lay a good foundation for the chase but the introduction of Caines proved crucial as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Matt Camp (27) struck three boundaries and two sixes in a quick-fire innings but he was the only other batsman to reach double figures as Martinstown crumbled.

Speaking to Echosport after the contest, Nichols felt the game dropped away from his side when Wimborne switched their bowling attack to spin.

“We suffered against the spinners. When Tom gets going it’s difficult. We got a good start at 54-0 and we did have them under pressure but they brought spin into the game and then we lost a couple of wickets.

“It got too much with the rate and we subsided. I think they were definitely too good for us, the scoreboard pressure did it,” he said.

In spite of the humbling defeat, Nichols was quick to praise his side’s display with ball in hand.

“We managed to really pull the rate back and get the spinners into the game and at drinks they were 98-1 and from that kind of base we struggled to limit them but we were quite disciplined with the ball.

“They were always coming out and building partnerships together,” he added.

Martinstown will renew their search for a second victory of the season when they make the trip to Shillingstone on Saturday.

n Martinstown Seconds (139) lost to Blandford Seconds (140-7) by three wickets.