STALBRIDGE v BRIDPORT
BRIDPORT skipper Paul Tweddle has told his men not to rest on their laurels after victory over Swanage on the opening day of the Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One season.
The 19-year-old keeper/batsman, who is preparing his troops for a trip to Stalbridge tomorrow, is calling for a repeat performance against the North Dorset club.
"We need to give a similar show to last week," said Tweddle. "It is important not to rest and be happy with one victory. We need to strive for more."
He added: "Stalbridge will be one of the stand out teams this year and will be a tough challenge but it is just important that we each focus on our own games and do our own jobs well."
Bridport picked up maximum points with victory over the Swans and top the table alongside Marnhull at this very early stage.
Stalbridge defeated newly-promoted Corfe Mullen last weekend and failed to bowl their hosts out. In reply to 221, Corfe Mullen closed on 206-9 in their 45 overs.
But when Bridport met Stalbridge last season it was the latter's bowling attack that shone.
They skittled Jon Whetlor's men for 98 on the opening day of the season and restricted them to 160-9 later in the summer, with a mix of accurate pace bowling from Steve Forshaw and clever spin from Andrew Dike and Matt Chant.
Dike and Chant took 11 of the 19 wickets to fall across both games and went on to bag a total of 61 scalps over the course of the campaign.
The Bridport batsmen will have to be on their guard against the spin twins this Saturday and will be encouraged by the return of Phil Gisborne.
The talented left-hander comes in for Mark Lewis and will take on greater responsibility in the absence of Jon Whetlor, Tom Hayball and Sean Fitzgerald.
Under-16 starlets Sam Challis, Fred Everitt, Sam Good and Wes Lewis all keep their place in a team that boasts an average age of just 21.
Bridport: Tweddle, Atkins, Gisborne, F Everitt, Russell, Challis, S Good, W Everitt, W Lewis, Herring, Sherring
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