BERE REGIS 174-5 beat ABBOTSBURY 108 by 66 runs

BERE Regis were in superb form as they stormed to a 66-run victory over Abbotsbury in the Doug Read Cup final at Bere Regis Recreation Ground.

Fifties from Pete Russell (59) and man-of-the-match Dave Griffiths (51) set the platform for Bere, before a barrage of big hitting from Stuart Beasley (43no) accelerated the hosts’ tally to 174-5 from their 20 overs.

Neil Walton (1-19) and captain Will McKay (1-26) were the only Abbotsbury bowlers to take wickets, with the Swans claiming three run-outs.

In reply, openers Simon Mitchem (54) and Simon Pengelly (27) rapidly built a stand of 47 but they were the only batsman to reach double figures.

Abbotsbury lost 10 wickets for 61 runs in subsiding to 108 all out, Pete Macklin the pick of the bowlers with 3-23.

It was a dismal end to the match for Abbotsbury, who had started so promisingly with the ball.

Walton had Nick Cheeseman (1) caught behind, while left-arm seamer Lloyd Beals (0-20) also proved economical as Bere Regis reached 40-1 after eight overs.

But a 109-run second-wicket partnership between Russell and Griffiths was crucial and, after Mitchem’s excellent tumbling catch to remove the former, it was left to Beasley to cut loose.

The rangy right-hander hit four sixes in a blistering innings, including a towering six straight down the ground which cleared the perimeter fence.

Mitchem and Pengelly then set off quickly in pursuit of 175, however, when Pengelly was stumped by Bere skipper Shane Hewitt off the bowling of Adrian Moore (1-17), Abbotsbury’s batsmen folded.

McKay (6) lofted an easy catch to long-off, before Kieron Womble (3) and Jim Ryall (6) were run out.

Macklin then ripped through the middle order before a run out – the seventh of the match – sealed the match for Bere Regis.

Victorious captain Hewitt said: “To win it this year is really good, we’ve beaten some good teams along the way. We were confident with 174 on the board. They got off to a good start but I think once we got through the top order we were on top. It was a good win for us, I thought we deserved it.”

Despite the loss, Abbotsbury skipper McKay was pleased with his side’s cup run.

He said: “We’ve played well throughout the season. I think we gave them a little bit extra in the field than we should have done but it just wasn’t our night."