DORCHESTER 107-5 (19pts) beat SHERBORNE 104 (3pts) by five wickets

DORCHESTER produced a ruthless bowling display to provide a fine season-ending win against Sherborne in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division at the Rec.

A hat-trick of wickets from Dorchester captain James Dunham and two wickets from Dan Belt, Joshua Richardson and George Foot trapped Sherborne who struggled to get to triple digits.

Sherborne won the toss and elected to bat in a decision that swiftly backfired when Dunham dismissed opener Ryan Monk (1) with just three runs on the board.

Luke Hancock (14) was then bowled as Dunham took his second wicket with Sherborne on 26 runs.

Seven runs later, Belt took his first when Craig Jones (1) was caught by Nick Roe.

This brought Emlyn Kuhn to the crease who was Sherborne’s one bright spark, as he remained not out with a good knock of 45.

Dunham and Belt then took a wicket each with just one run, dismissing Mark Lock (16) and Andrew Nurton (0) respectively.

Sherborne’s lower order fell steadily as Dorchester kept their opponents to a low total of 104.

However, the hosts made tough work of it with a dreadful start as they fell to 8-2 early on when Nick Roe (3) and James Caldwell (1) were dismissed by Tim Durston and Nurton respectively.

The 39-run partnership between William Caldwell (15) and Eral Anderson (34) then boosted Dorchester to 47-2 before the former was caught by Richard Carter from a Paul Hancock delivery.

The finish line was then in sight by the time Anderson went with Jones bowling him with Dorchester now on 83-4.

Simon Mitchem went two runs later but the closing partnership of Belt and Ben Macklin saw Dorchester over the line.

After the match, Dunham said: “It was a very good win, a very good win. Sherborne had a good side out.

“They asked us to field first and me and Dan Belt opened up and got five wickets between us.

“We were very tight in the field and it was an enjoyable match with us all chipping in and bowling them out for 104 which really set up the game for us. It was really positive.

“Our bowling unit rarely lets us down and it showed a lot of craft.

“We have got a lot of depth on the ball.

“We have probably got seven players that could bowl 10 overs for us which always helps but we consistently took wickets that put them under pressure.”

“To get them out for 104 with our batting side I would always back us to chase that.”

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