BEAMINSTER 146 (17pts) beat SHAFTESBURY 73 (5pts) by 73 runs

AN INSPIRED bowling performance galvanised Beaminster to a 73-run victory against Shaftesbury at the Memorial Ground in County Division Two.

Despite a below par batting display, the home team still prevailed thanks to the excellence of the four in-form bowlers.

After an uncontested toss saw Beaminster bat first, a solid platform was built by openers Ross Baker (18) and Luke King (30) who shared a 51-run partnership.

However, after a brief rain delay, wickets tumbled as the pitch became unpredictable and the home batsmen failed to adapt.

Following a 38-run partnership between Daniel Swift (18) and Simon Jones (19) the remaining batsmen collapsed to a disappointing total of 146.

During the chase, Daniel Swift (2-8) and Simon Jones (0-11) exerted pressure from the start.

Backed up by eager fielding, Swift bowled a hostile spell and was rewarded with two superbly executed wickets.

First change bowlers Ross Baker (3-18) and Ali Crawford (5-34) continued the excellent work and reaped the rewards of the earlier pressure.

Baker bowled the dangerous Aled Williams who played well for his 32, before Crawford mopped up the tail to complete a brilliant bowling performance and move Beaminster to third in the table.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Baker said: “We were quite fired up, a bit disappointed with the way we batted.

“We had a chat at tea, got everyone together and said we needed to perform well with the ball.

“Everyone was very focused and there was some good fielding as well to back it up, so we were delighted with the win.”

Beaminster visit Poole Park to take on Poole Town Seconds on Saturday and Baker is minded to bowl first given the ubiquitous inclement weather.

“That’s the advantage of the uncontested toss,” Baker said. “We can just stick them straight in and try and get on top.

“We’re confident with our bowling at the moment that if we put a side in we can restrict them and we can control the game.

“We’re fairly confident after a wet week I don’t think we’ll be looking to bat first, not at Poole Park. So we’ll put them in and if we bowl like we did we’ve a good chance of chasing quite a low total, hopefully.”

Beaminster make three changes to their side, with Chris Park, Rich Runyard and Ollie Bareham coming in for Simon Jones, Ollie James and Will Murley.

Beaminster: Park, Baker, King, Swift, Crawford, Runyard, O Bareham, L Gurd, A Moss, Lamb, W Moss.