MARTINSTOWN 264-6 (20pts) bt BROADSTONE 171 (4pts) by 93 runs

A SUPERB century from Ryan Chase helped Martinstown to a fine victory at home against Broadstone in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

The victory sees them climb one place above their opponents and up to fourth in the table.

Broadstone won the toss and put Martinstown into bat and managed to put 47 runs on the board before Sean Williams was trapped lbw by Caleb Rowe.

Martinstown pushed on and made it to 100 however Teddy Andrews was then dismissed for a duck but Chase struck a superb 108 and remained unbeaten.

Sam Kershaw, who hit 32, was caught and bowled by Mark Spraggs 19 runs later.

A half-century from Martinstown captain Ed Nichols saw the home side push their total up before he had to retire hurt.

Matt Camp hit 30 late on as Martinstown made use of all 50 overs to set 264 for Broadstone to follow.

Camp then proved influential when bowling, managing to dismiss three of Broadstone’s opening four batsmen.

Firstly, Camp claimed James Park’s wicket for 14, with Broadstone managing to put 38 on the board.

Chris Read then bowled to allow Andrews to catch Luke Carter for 14, with the away side having managed to push their total up to 38.

Camp then bowled Pete Russell for a duck, with Broadstone failing to add to their total in that time, before trapping Ashley Collison lbw seven runs later as Martinstown’s bowlers began to whittle away at the away side’s batting.

With 77 runs on the board for their opponents, Camp struck again with his fourth and final wicket of the day as he bowled Joe Manley.

Broadstone’s lower order managed to strike well and helped the score along nicely. Peter Thompson pushed Broadstone into triple digits before being caught by Kershaw.

Ultimately the Broadstone resilience was broken when Spraggs was caught by Nichols with the side on 161, with their final wicket falling 10 runs later as Elliott Trembath also fell to a Nichols’ catch.

Nichols said: “It was a fantastic result against what is a really strong side, we are thrilled.

“We got off to a flyer with the bat but last time they really tightened the screw on us so I think the fact we got to drinks halfway one down showed that we have got a bit more resilience at the top of the order.

“We have played a bit more of a game plan this year where by having Ryan Chase in the middle order it has obviously taken the attack to them and we have obviously had that big last 10 overs which is what we talked about after the Swanage game.”

“We need to set up to do that more often because if that is how we are set up as a side, we need to be playing to that strength and we have done that again against what is a good bowling attack.

“It would be very easy to have a collapse but we have actually managed to keep those wickets in hand and actually go in that last 10 and really done the damage.”

“I went off retired hurt and we lost a few quick wickets so we had that little wobble but we have regrouped and batted for 50.

“They have got a really strong top three batters in there and there is pressure to go hard early on, and two or three of those high quality players have given it away so it just goes to show that if we do execute that game plan it makes a massive difference.”

Martinstown next face a trip to Shroton on Saturday.