STALBRIDGE SECONDS 140-7 (4pts) lost to CHARLTON DOWN 144-5 (18pts) by five wickets

CHARLTON Down enjoyed a final-day success after beating Stalbridge by five wickets in County Division Two.

Charlton included four of their West Dorset League winning under-15 team in Kieran Heath, Lewis Harrington, Henry Dipple and Ned Cotterell.

The hosts won the toss at Herrison Oval and asked already-relegated Stalbridge to bat.

This gave 15-year-old Heath the opportunity to open the bowling with Dan Stevens and it was Heath who struck first having the dangerous Neil Ford well caught by Ned Cotterell with the score on 23-1.

A change of bowling saw another youngster Lewis Harrington (2-11) claim a wicket in his first over and then he struck again in his second having taken two wickets for one run at that stage with the score on 34-3.

James Pretty then bowled brilliantly conceding just nine runs in his seven-over spell and claiming one wicket.

At 68-5, a low score looked in the offing. But a few lusty blows from Stalbridge’s Kev Forsey (26) and Matt Coleman (26) pushed the total to 140-7.

Dan Stevens and Dipple took a wicket apiece as the innings drew to a close.

Charlton Down were soon in trouble in their reply as Jae Miller hit a leg-side full toss from Neil Ford (2-24) straight to the grateful square-leg fielder with the score on 1-1 which soon became 9-2 as Dipple was bowled for six by Max Nettley (1-16).

Pretty (16) and Kim Park (41) added a valuable 48 runs before Pretty gave a simple catch with the score on 57-3.

But it was Park (41) and Cotterell (30) who added 46 runs in only eight overs that turned the game to a Charlton Down victory.

Sixteen-year-old Cotterell playing his first Saturday match started nervously but soon showed his older team-mates how cleanly he can hits a cricket ball. His 30 runs included a huge six and four fours.

However, at the other end it was Park whose mature innings held the batting together with a fine hour-and- a-half stay at the crease for his 41 including seven

fours.

The return of Ford saw him dismiss both Cotterell and Park at 118-5.

This brought Javed Gill to the crease who then crashed a quickfire 24 no see Charlton Down to victory with three overs to spare.

Captain Tommy Tucker said: “It was a really enjoyable match played very much in the right spirit where young players were given an opportunity to contribute on both teams.

“We achieved our goal for the season which was to stay in this league and the next goal is to continue giving young cricketers a chance to enjoy the game.

“A big thank you goes out to all the players and parents. To Yvette Roles and Sue Stevens, who do so much during the season.

“A massive thank you goes out to the Rich Fagence for preparing the good grass strips and Mark Parnell and Alex Campbell for keeping the outfield cut.”