BERE REGIS 196-8 (11pts) lost to BROADSTONE 207-9 (18pts) by 11 runs

BERE Regis came agonisingly short of a third successive win over 2017 Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League champions Broadstone in an 11-run defeat at Bere Regis Rec.

Rich Cole’s men had last season done the double over the then reigning champions and were well on course to maintain their stranglehold over the Delph Woods side after a strong bowling display.

Bere won the toss and elected to field but found 2018 top runscorer Luke Carter in ominous form as the opener put on 54 for the first wicket with Ashley Collison (21).

When Collison fell to the impressive Rob Murphy (3-26), his dismissal provoked a Bere fightback as four wickets were lost for 45 runs.

At 99-4, Carter rebuilt with Pete Russell (18) until Dean Rogerson swooped to run the latter out for 160-5.

Carter continued to attack, scoring eight fours and a six, but was stumped off Rogerson (2-57) 11 runs short of his century.

The hosts the restricted the tail, Cole (2-39) making a rare appearance with the ball as Broadstone closed on 207-9 from 50 overs.

Despite the early loss of Matt King (1), bowled by Caleb Rowe (2-23), Bere rallied to a superb platform as Murphy and Rich Payne (66) each scored brilliant half-centuries.

The duo amassed a staggering 148 for the second wicket but both men perished to Collison (4-27) as Broadstone put the brakes on the home side’s chase with the run-rate climbing.

Crispin Brown (12) smashed a four and a six off five balls but Bere found the pressure of the chase too great as Broadstone held on for their fourth victory of the season.

Speaking to Echosport, Cole expressed mixed feelings regarding Bere’s innings.

“It was a bit of a poor chase from us,” he admitted. “We had Rob and Rich set us up with a really good foundation.

“Unfortunately they didn’t push on to finish the game off and we were looking at a run a ball for the last 10 (overs).

“It was tricky for the guys who came in to push it around – the run-rate started climbing on us and we had to push too late on.

“It was absolutely gutting, we were one down for a long time. We should have had the game under control all the way through and looked to finish the game off.

“We were always one or two big overs away but we did come away with 11 points. It’s a healthy loss I suppose but all things considered with should have had a win.”

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