KINGSTON LACY 185 (19pts) beat CHARLTON DOWN 65 (5pts) by 120 runs

CHARLTON Down’s miserable start to the season continued with a comprehensive 120-run loss to Kingston Lacy in County Division Two.

Down were in the game for large spells and the match result did not tell the full story, which could have been different had it not been for John Burns, whose big-hitting 91 included 11 fours and three sixes.

Burns came to the crease with Kingston Lacy struggling on 13-3 after Matt Stevens (2-21 off eight overs) had both openers caught behind and Dan Stevens (2-21 off nine overs) had Matt Holton caught behind – all three taken by Sam Roles.

A valuable and often fortuitous 85-run partnership was brought to an end by James Pretty (3-34), who struck three times in as many balls to record his first-ever hat-trick as Kingston collapsed to 98-6 after 26 overs.

It was at this point that Burns decided the best form of defence was attack and helped by intelligent batting by Alex White (14) to help him farm the strike, he crashed the ball to the boundary.

Often the ball fell short or to the side of fielders as he rode his good fortune, but Javed Gill (1-27) eventually bowled White to halt a quickfire 49 partnership with the score pushed to 147-7.

With the help of the tail, Burns was able to add another 40 runs before being last man out, boosting the score to an impressive 185.

In reply, Charlton Down’s start mirrored Lacy’s as the visitors lost three quick wickets, this time for only six runs. James Holton (2-18) struck to bowl Jack Eveleigh (0) and had Roger Frapwell (3) well caught at gully and then Bob Dykes (1-4) yorked Jae Miller (2).

Matt Stevens (15) and Pretty (9) attempted to steady the ship but both were dismissed by Karl Jones (2-23) to leave the score on 31-5.

Roles (23) and Kim Park (7) looked to have stabilised the innings until both men were dismissed by Paul Cox Jnr (3-13), who later bowled Dan Stevens (0).

Burns (2-6) then snapped up Gill (0) and Pete Tucker (1) as the last four wickets fell for just six runs to complete a miserable batting performance which saw the struggling away side score just 65 all out.

Next up for Charlton Down is a home clash with in-form Beaminster.

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