MARTINSTOWN 279-9 (20pts) beat DORCHESTER 124 (5pts) by 155 runs

ROSS Stewart’s majestic century helped Martinstown thrash Dorchester and finish the season as runners-up in Premier Two.

The visitors held a seven-point advantage over their hosts going into the last match of the campaign, but they had no answer to Martinstown’s batting and bowling on the day.

And leading the way for Martinstown was Stewart, who blasted a superb 122 in his team’s huge total of 279-9.

Matt Camp also contributed a half-century in a stand of 150 with Stewart for the hosts’ sixth wicket – Martinstown had been 82-5 at one stage of their innings having won the toss and elected to bat.

In reply, the county town outfit fell well short of their target, thanks largely to the bowling of Chris Read (4-59) and Ryan Chase.

Such an emphatic win, their second success against Dorchester this season, gave skipper Ed Nichols and his troops a maximum haul of 20 league points.

In the final standings they finished eight points clear of Dan Belt’s men but 30 behind champions Sherborne, who celebrated their promotion to Premier One with a three-wicket defeat of Bere Regis.

Reflecting on the game, Martinstown captain Nichols said: “I was bowled first ball to a big inswinger and we were struggling a bit at 80-5.

“But then Ross and Matt built a great partnership and we were obviously very pleased to make 279.

“Chris took a few early wickets and Matt got a couple, and we also had a bit of luck with one dragged on to the stumps and one out down the leg side.

“The spinners then finished the job as Ryan took three wickets and Liam Banfield had one.

“Dorchester scored quickly but we managed to take wickets regularly and never looked in too much danger.”

On the season, he added: “It was good that we finished the season so strongly and we’ve had a lot of good games this year.

“The players have done really well to finish second and in terms of standout performers Ryan has been great, and Ross has come through with runs at the end.

“Second place was probably about right and we can go into next year knowing we are able to beat anyone in this league.”