DORCHESTER 312-2 (20pts) bt SHROTON 108 (2pts) by 204 runs

A FANTASTIC 292-run partnership by Will Caldwell and Bharat Popli saw Dorchester maintain their unbeaten record in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

The county town side lost the toss and were put into bat, and initially got off to a tough start with Dan Belt being caught by Marc Doble from a Ryan Doble ball with just 14 runs on the board.

However, this only led to Popli coming to the crease to start his hugely successful partnership with Caldwell, which saw Dorchester close to their huge tally after 50 overs.

Caldwell hit 111, with 100 of those coming during the partnership, with seven fours helping him along the way.

Popli hit a huge tally of 181 runs with 28 fours and three sixes from 126 balls.

The duo were only stopped late on with Dorchester at 306 runs, when Popli was caught by Doble from an Anthony Wooldridge ball.

Remarkably, this was Caldwell’s first game at the Rec since he suffered a knee injury two years ago and he remained not out at the end of the innings.

Jack Owens came to the crease and added six runs before the 50 overs were up, leaving Shroton with a huge target to hit in the second innings.

When put into bowl, Dorchester were equally as devastating, with Shroton losing five batsmen before they could put double figures on the board, Belt taking four of them.

Dorchester vice-captain Simon Mitchem then bowled Matthew Hewitt, after his attack had earlier led to a Will McKay catch, to dismiss Hewitt to leave Shroton on 28-6.

A 58-run partnership between Wooldridge and Doble helped Shroton to 97-8.

However, Wooldridge was then stumped by Nick Roe from a McKay ball in, who then bowled Doble seven runs later to leave the away side on 104-9.

The formalities of victory were then sealed when Steve Pike was bowled by Jack Owens.

As a result, Dorchester stay top of the table and are 15 points clear of closest rivals Wimborne & Colehill, who beat Bere Regis.

Mitchem was satisfied with Dorchester’s ability both bowling and at the bat and highlighted Popli and Caldwell’s centuries.

Mitchem said: “Bharat and Will both scored 100s so it was really pleasing to see that obviously we can put a big total on the board and then bowl them out for 108 is really satisfying as well.

“We are obviously really pleased with the result, we are still unbeaten so we are really happy about that.”

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