WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 99 (0pts) lost to DORCHESTER 100-0 (20pts) by 10 wickets

DORCHESTER demolished reigning Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League champions Wimborne & Colehill with an astonishing 10-wicket victory at the Leaze.

With maximum points collected, Dorchester remain at the league’s summit, 16 points ahead of second-placed Sherborne ahead of their crunch clash in two weeks’ time.

Coming into their contest with the Minstermen, few would have expected a drubbing as eye-catching as this, particularly in warm and dry conditions – ideal for batting.

Dorchester captain James Dunham elected to bowl first on a used wicket and the decision proved a masterstroke as the visitors rapidly obliterated the hosts’ top order.

Dan Belt (3-30), who now has 19 wickets at 13.58 apiece, trapped James Miller (0) lbw before Dunham (4-30) dismissed the dangerous Colin Randall (0) leg before.

Dunham continued his rampage, pinning Lewis Freak (2) lbw and bowling Frank Turrell (0).

At 9-4, Wimborne’s predicament worsened to 14-6 as Belt had Dorset bowler Ed Bartlett (2) caught behind before castling Robert Hatchard (0).

Captain Mark House (19) led a brief recovery with Harry Prince (30) after Dunham dismissed Joe Welch (5) but the shellshocked champions were finally bowled out for just 99 as off-spinner Jamie Barrett (3-21) also cashed in.

A marvellous bowling performance was then backed up by a ruthless batting display as Jack Owens (66no) smashed 11 fours alongside Jim Ryall (25no) who played the anchor role.

Dorchester flew to their target without loss, needing just 22.1 overs to secure a resounding victory that will surely send shockwaves out to their nearest rivals.

Speaking to Echosport, Dunham said: “However hot it was, to turn up to an away fixture and bowl first was a tricky decision.

“We backed ourselves with the ball and it was a damp, used pitch.

“To have them 14-6 that obviously helped, otherwise you could be chasing leather for a long time.

“Credit to me and Dan, we went through their top order and we took some brilliant catches.

“It was a day that just happened for us.

“To bowl a team out for 99, let alone that being Wimborne, is a difficult task.

“But to knock it off with no wickets down, I think that’s the main positive.”