BEAMINSTER 85-3 (24pts) beat SWANAGE 84 (1pt) by seven wickets

BEAMINSTER put some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the Dorset Funeral Plan League Division One drop zone with a seven-wicket mauling of Swanage.

The Memorial Ground outfit skittled their visitors for just 84 and knocked the target off for the loss of just three wickets to claim 24 of the 25 points on offer.

And those points have seen them jump above the East Dorset outfit in the table and open up a 3.52 points difference-lead on second-bottom Bridport.

Richard Bugler's men were wary of the Swans after their demolition of rivals Bridport the week before.

However, the visitors failed to show the kind of spirit that saw them score 321-9 that day and capitulated to 84 all out against a disciplined Beam-inster attack.

Dan Wyatt and Murray Legg took the new ball for the home side and soon had the Swanage openers in trouble.

Legg bagged the first two wickets, including Swanage skipper Ian Booth clean bowled, before Wyatt removed Peter Higham for just one.

The opening duo both completed their 10 over spells with Dave Dyer (26) and Chris Leak (21) desperately attempting to repair the damage.

But the Swanage batsmen, who terrorised Bridport just seven days earlier, were given precious little to work with.

And when the prize wicket of Dyer was claimed by first change bowler Simon Jones, caught by Ian Hutchings, the Swanage resolve completely disappeared.

Left arm spinner Grant Vink had Leak caught by Beaminster wicket keeper Richard Runyard as the visitors lost their final seven wickets for just 16 runs in under half and hour.

Jones bagged three more to finish with 4-13 from seven overs while at the other end Vink's spin secured him 3-14, including the last scalp of Pete Barker, leg before wicket.

After the break Beaminster set about completing the victory with aplomb.

Julian Davies (19) and Vink teed up the finish with an opening stand of 42 and after brief stays from Joe Hawkins and Chris Park it was Bugler, with 12 not out, who helped the Australian steer the ship home.

Vink finished unbeaten on 42 to put the icing on another fine day in a Beaminster shirt.

SCOREBOARD

SWANAGE

Booth b Legg 20

Thomas c Hawkins b Legg 7

Dyer c Hutchings b Jones 26

Higham b Wyatt 1

Leak c Runyard b Vink 21

Dyson b Vink 0

King c Hillier b Jones 0

Baczala b Jones 0

P Kirby lbw Jones 1

Barker lbw Vink 1

L Kirby not out 2

Extras 5

Total (all out, 33.4overs): 84

FoW: 1-28, 2-29, 3-39, 4-68, 5-74, 6-75, 7-77, 8-81, 9-81

Bowling: Wyatt 10-2-19-1; Legg 10-2-34-2; Jones 7-2-13-4; Vink 6.4-3-14-3

BEAMINSTER

Davies b Higham 19

Vink not out 42

Hawkins c Dyson b Leak 3

Park lbw P Kirby 2

Bugler not out 12

Extras 7

Total (3wkts, 22.2overs) 85

FoW: 1-42, 2-60, 3-69

Bowling: Higham 7-2-17-1; Baczala 4-0-21-0; Leak 6.2-0-34-1; P Kirby 5-1-12-1