BRIDPORT 57 (1pt) lost to STALBRIDGE 59-3 (24pts) by seven wickets

BRIDPORT slumped to their heaviest Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One defeat of the summer.

The Brewery Ground outfit were bowled out for just 57 by promotion-chasing Stalbridge, who knocked off the required runs in under 14 overs.

And now Paul Tweddle's men, who picked up just one point from the hammering, face an enormous battle to escape the clutches of relegation.

Bridport have been cut adrift by an average of 3.08 points per game.

And they now need two consecutive victories to jump out of the drop zone, provided Swanage, Beaminster or even Marnhull suffer two heavy reversals in the same time frame.

Unfortunately the West Dorset outfit have won just once all season, on the opening day, and bagging two triumphs in seven days looks near impossible on present form.

Tweddle won the toss against Stalbridge and after a discussion with his troops opted to bat first.

The wicket was damp and made timing the ball very awkward but that was no excuse for what followed.

After Sam Challis was caught and bowled for none in the second over Tweddle and Rob Atkins had slowly moved the score on to 11 when Stalbridge and former Dorset paceman Steve Forshaw ripped through Bridport's middle order.

He bowled Tweddle with a slower ball at the end of his fourth over before returning to clean up Dave Herbert and Fred Everitt in consecutive deliveries at the start of his fifth to complete a hat trick.

Pete Russell survived the next two balls before Forshaw had him trapped leg before wicket to end a devastating spell of four wickets in six deliveries.

At 11-5 the home side were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing defeat.

And although Atkins and Lewis Stripp added 23 before the latter was caught behind off the bowling of Mark Chant they failed to restore much pride.

Atkins' vigil ended in the 24th over, caught at short leg by Chris Warne off Chant for a painful 13 runs and only 12 from Chris Backhouse and an unbeaten six from Danny Dancer pushed the score over 50.

Bridport, who were attempting the impossible after tea, did pick up three wickets before Stalbridge secured the inevitable victory.

Chris Backhouse got his first of the season while there was one apiece for Adam Herring and Atkins.

BREWERY GROUND SCOREBOARD

BRIDPORT

Atkins c Warne b Chant 13

Challis c&b Williams 0

Tweddle b Forshaw 6

Herbert b Forshaw 0

F Everitt b Forshaw 0

Russell lbw Forshaw 0

Stripp c Hedges b Chant 13

Dancer not out 6

Backhouse b Burfitt 12

Tozer c&b Chant 4

Herring lbw Chant 0

Extras 3

Total (all out, 30.5overs) 57

FoW: 1-2, 2-11, 3-11, 4-11, 5-11, 6-34, 7-35, 8-48, 9-55

Bowling: Forshaw 8-4-5-4; Williams 10-3-21-1; Chant 7.5-0-15-4; R Burfitt 5-0-14-1

STALBRIDGE

M Burfitt c F Everitt b Herring 2

Chant c Dancer b Backhouse 25

Warne lbw Atkins 12

Wilson not out 2

Burfitt not out 3

Extras 15

Total (3wkts, 13.5overs) 59

FoW: 1-19, 2-33, 3-46

Bowling: Herring 5-1-17-1; Backhouse 6-0-31-1; Atkins 1.5-0-10-1