CHARLTON DOWN 301-6 (20pts) beat CERNE VALLEY SECONDS 153 (7pts) lost by 148 runs

CHARLTON Down’s comprehensive 148-run victory over Cerne Valley was set up by a strong batting display from centurion Jae Miller and Kim Park.

Batting first, Nick Voss and Miller had to play cautiously against the accurate opening bowling attack of Chris Smith and Craig Kellaway.

They could only muster 38-0 after 10 overs but the tempo of the innings changed as Miller began to launch into the new bowlers and find the boundary with regularity.

Voss (16) was the first wicket to fall with the score on 76-1 when he was trapped leg before by Cerne’s Tom Best (2-54). Two more quick wickets left the visitors’ total on 93-3.

This brought together Park and Miller and their partnership of 79 put the game beyond Cerne Valley’s reach.

Miller batted superbly to reach his century, which included 12 fours and seven sixes, in only 88 balls as he jumped on anything that was short of a length or over-pitched.

It was eventually young leg-spinner Ben Simpson who bowled Miller for an impressive 117.

Not to be overshadowed, it was then left to Park to take over and he continued to be aggressive.

His 89 came off only 65 balls and included some lovely cover drives and excellent running between the wickets.

Javed Gill (19) and Rob Rutter (19) both played cameo innings to push the score pass the 300 mark before Park was run out off the last ball.

The Cerne Valley reply was very solid with Tom Downey(15) and Kellaway (22) playing each delivery from the young bowling attack of Matt and Dan Stevens on its merits.

It was the latter of the Stevens siblings who had Downey brilliantly caught by Rutter at deep gully, the fielder plucking the ball one-handed out of the sky with the score on 31-1.

The change of bowling saw Sam Roles (3-43) strike twice in two balls, and 51-3 soon became 75-5 when Gill (4-34) also struck twice, removing the dangerous Kellaway.

Gill claimed two more dismissals in his last over to return excellent bowling figures of 4-34 as the hosts were eventually dismissed for 153. Mark Homewood, making his Saturday debut, performed well with the ball too.

Charlton Down captain Pete Tucker said: “It was great to see 17-year-old Nick Voss settling into his opening position and growing in confidence."