BLANDFORD 239-8 (8pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 270-6 (19pts) by 31 runs

A SUPERB 120 and a four-wicket haul from Sam Roles laid the foundations for a 31-run victory for Charlton Down and helped them secure their place in County Division Two for next season.

Roles also had a fantastic second-wicket partnership of 132 with James Pretty to help Charlton to victory.

Charlton Down lost the toss on what looked a soft green wicket and were put into bat but it was a good true and bouncy wicket.

Charlton got off to a good start with Roles and Roger Frapwell added 45 in the first 10 overs against good bowling in particular Ryan White (0-12) who was unlucky to go wicketless in his six overs.

It took a brilliant catch and bowl by Blandford captain Andy Sullivan to dismiss Frapwell.

However, this brought together Roles and James Pretty who added an impressive 132 before Pretty was out for 35 bowled by Veringa (3-49) with the score on 177-2.

This soon became 187-4 and Roles’ two-hour stay at the crease saw him bring up his 50 from 101 balls and 100 in just 128 balls, hitting 16 fours and three sixes before being out for 120 in the 34th over.

It was Jae Miller (37) and Kim Park (20) who steady the ship by adding 37 runs and taking the score to 224-5 before Park was run out for 20.

Miller batted well to hold the middle order together and, with the help of Dan Stevens (20) and Javed Gill (8), pushed the score 270-6 after 45 overs.

Blandford decided the best form of defence was attack as they sprung out of the traps for their innings.

Kev Abbott (42) was dropped twice in the opening over and James Mitchell (20) added 62 quickfire runs before Mark Homewood (2-39) bagged both Abbott and Mitchell with the score on 77-2.

A mirror image of Down’s innings developed and 120 was added by Ryan White (63) and Lewis Freak (58) until Roles whipped off his keeping pads and turning to spin changed the complexion of the game as he took four wickets for just 18 runs as 192-2 soon became 210-6.

But the important wicket of Ryan White produced the catch of the day as young Kieran Heath took a brilliant running catch off Javed Gill to remove the free-scoring Ryan White.

Blandford found scoring difficult in the latter stages as Javed Gill and Dan Stevens bowled beautifully to curtail the run chase. Eventually they batted out the last few overs but by then victory was completed for Charlton Down.

Captain Tommy Tucker said: “It has been a challenging season due to unavailability but it’s great to achieve our goal of remaining in the league for another season.

“The challenge is now to introduce the next crop of younger players into the team from next season.”