DORCHESTER 200-3 (19pts) beat BERE REGIS 113 (2pts) by 87 runs

DORCHESTER recorded their third straight win of the campaign to see off rivals Bere Regis by 87 runs in their Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League clash at the Rec.

Having won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny day, Dorchester found themselves in early strife at 33-3 but recovered superbly as Eral Anderson (80no) and Simon Mitchem (74no) constructed an unbeaten 167-run stand for the fourth wicket to close the innings at 200-3 from 50 overs.

Dorchester’s strong bowling line-up then strangled the visitors’ reply as Bere reached 32-3 after 18 overs, before Josh Richardson (2-25) and Jack Walklett (3-34) tore through the away side’s middle order, eventually bowling them out for 113.

That total was the highest conceded so far this season by a white-hot Dorchester attack that has claimed 30 wickets for 272 runs this season having previously dismissed Stalbridge for 47 and Swanage for 112.

The hosts’ win looked far from the eventual outcome when Matt King (1-19) and Crispin Brown (2-18) dismissed Dan Belt (8), Quenton Miller (10) and Bharat Popli (3) after 13 overs.

But Dorchester were indebted to Anderson and Mitchem, who each struck nine fours during their half-centuries, compiled during two hours at the crease.

Bere’s target of 201 looked achievable but a desperately slow start hampered their chase as Belt (1-18) and captain James Dunham (2-15) bowled extremely tightly, the latter collecting the wickets of openers King (8) and Rob Cole (8).

Rob Murphy (17) made a good start before he was bowled by Richardson and Bere never recovered as Walklett removed Rich Cole (7), Dave Griffiths and Garry King (both 16).

George Foot and Mitchem (both 1-9) then weighed in with economical spells to complete a 19-point win.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, Dunham was delighted with his side’s response to being three wickets down.

He said: “It was nice to see our batsmen bat. We were 33-3 at one point and before the game we spoke about scenarios like that.

“So to go to 200-3 both (Anderson and Mitchem) timed their innings perfectly. The first two games, the top three have seen us home and now four and five have got the runs.

“As a skipper you can’t ask for much more. It’s showing our depth, which is awesome.”

Visiting captain Rich Cole, meanwhile, rued his side’s inability to construct batting alliances.

He said: “We knew that they didn’t have much after that partnership but they did a very good job in scoring where they could.

“If you offered me 200 before the game I’d have bitten your hand off, but they batted really well and hit the ball hard in the right places.

“I thought our bowling wasn’t at its best but, considering I only managed 10 overs out of our opening bowlers due to injury, I was limited in options.

“We just needed some partnerships and didn’t have them, so that’s what let us down. Our fielding was better than it was last week and we didn’t give up at any stage.

“We’re definitely going to be looking at the side for next week. There may well be some changes coming up.”

* Dorchester Seconds lost to Shaftesbury by 138 runs in County Division Three, while Bere Regis Seconds succumbed by four wickets to Royal Challengers Sports in County Division Five for their second loss this season.

* Brewhouse man-of-the-match was Eral Anderson

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