BERE REGIS 90-1 (20pts) beat BROADSTONE 88 (0pts) by nine wickets

BERE Regis thrashed 10-man Broadstone by nine wickets at Bere Regis Rec to earn their eighth win of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League season.

Bere captain Rich Cole won the toss and invited Broadstone to bat first in overcast conditions.

Luke Carter, the top runscorer in Dorset this season with 799 runs from 16 innings, established a 50-run opening partnership with James Park as Broadstone initially nullified the Bere Regis attack.

Therefore, it came as a huge surprise when the understaffed visitors lost all nine wickets for just 38 runs.

Rich Payne (1-22) got the prize scalp of Carter (27) before wicketkeeper Daniel Cook (8) was run out by Robert Murphy.

Park (31) took Broadstone to 74-2 but his dismissal – trapped leg before by David Griffiths (3-5) – sparked an appalling collapse as the away side lost six wickets for four runs.

Veteran bowler Sean Walbridge (4-18) did the majority of the damage to skittle Broadstone for 88 after Caleb Rowe (7) struck a boundary off Payne.

Bere exhibited patience in pursuit of 89, Matt King (35) the only wicket to fall when Mike Holm (1-13) pinned the all-rounder lbw to leave the hosts on 60-1.

However, Payne (30no) and Rob Murphy (9no) safely guided Bere to a maximum-point win, ensuring Broadstone scored zero points.

Cole admitted winning the toss had been key to the rampant manner of the victory.

He said: “We did very well, we managed to bowl some quite tight lines, took all of our catches, and there was a really good run out from Rob. I thought they had some good batsmen but we managed to put on some good pressure.

“What was key was winning the toss. Any team bowling first had the advantage.

“What you’ve got to ask of your bowlers when you bowl first is bowl tight lines and be disciplined, we did that and took our opportunities when we had them.”

On Bere’s batting, Cole added: “Matty and Rich did well, didn’t go after it too aggressively. We must have taken 25, 26 overs. We took our time getting them but we did it in a measured response.

“We showed we’re here ready to play cricket in the Premier League for the years to come.”

n Bere Regis Seconds lost to Witchampton Seconds by six wickets in County Division Five and remain in fourth position.

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