MARTINSTOWN claimed a brilliant three victories from four games, including a nailbiting win over Parley, in the ECB Vitality Blast Under-19 Dorset competition.

Coloured team shirts and pink balls were supplied for the T20 event, with Martinstown fielding a total of 16 players across both dates.

The first group of matches were played in stifling conditions, and Martinstown took a 20-run triumph in the first game having restricted Beaminster to 137-6.

In the second match, North Dorset Jaguars batted first scoring 143-4 and Martinstown fell short by 13 runs, ending on 130-8.

There where strong batting performances in both games, Sean Williams top scoring on 94 runs, Tom Pope accruing 49, Will Maltby accumulating 42 and Jack Kane reaching 36 not out.

Top wicket takers for the Villagers were Charlie Andrews and Will Maltby, taking three wickets each across the two games.

In contrast, the finals day on September 8 was a chilly overcast day.

Martinstown lost the toss on finals day and were asked to bowl first against Beaminster, who lost wickets early to Jacob Coombs (2-16). However, the west Dorset side saw William Murley (26no) and Will Moss (11no) recover, helping Beaminster to post 88-6 despite tight bowling from Gabriel Maltby (1-18) and Will Maltby (0-6).

In reply, Martinstown built their score steadily, Kane (31) and Gabriel Maltby (25) helping the Villagers to reach their target after 17 overs and win by five wickets, although Ollie Bareham’s (4-9) produced the best bowling figures.

Martinstown’s final game against Parley proved to be an exciting affair.

Martinstown lost the toss and were asked to bowl, with Parley’s top-order batsmen Luke Neill (29) and Jack Nicholls (18) scoring quickly.

Coombs (1-28) took the first wicket in the seventh over and Charlie Durant bowled opener Neill in the next.

Left-hand spin bowler Durant (6-26) went on to take regular wickets when the Parley batsmen attempted to charge his bowling, the youngster’s bowling stats putting him in the top 10 nationally for the competition.

Jamie Stewart (1-22) and Will Maltby (2-7) removed the tailend batsmen and Parley were all out for 100 runs in the 14th over.

Early in their chase, opening batsman Matthew Lappin was bowled by the pacy Nicholls (3-15).

Brothers Sean (26) and Finlay Williams (11) helped to put runs on the board and a partnership of 36 between Williams and Maltby (27) helped to keep Martinstown up with the run rate.

Martinstown started to lose wickets quickly after that partnership was broken through seam bowler Tom Barber (3-21) but kept taking every available run.

Nine wickets down and needing two runs to win off two balls, Jacob Coombs (4no) held his nerve and hit a four to the delight of his team cheering on from the sidelines.

n Martinstown have now entered the Clayesmore School Indoor League.

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