MARTINSTOWN 122-5 beat PUDDLETOWN 89-9 by 33 runs

THE Doug Read Cup final was fought out before a good crowd in glorious sunshine as Martinstown defeated Puddletown by 33 runs at Dorchester Rec.

Though Puddletown had been winners on several occasions before, Martinstown’s only trophy in cup or league had come 10 years ago, so there was much anticipation.

Martinstown batted first and found boundaries difficult at first, not reaching the ropes until the eighth over.

Some rapid running between the wickets helped keep the score moving however and with Tom Pope, Fraser Hill and Sam Kershaw all contributing exactly 22 each before being dismissed, the rate picked up, especially when it was aided by the addition of five penalty runs as the ball hit a discarded helmet.

When Tom Blair conceded only three runs from the 19th over, Puddletown fans were content to have restricted

Martinstown’s final score to 122 and looked forward to a good chase.

Martinstown’s opening bowlers, however, had other ideas.

George Pope proved to have far too much guile for Puddletown’s top order, snaffling four of the top five batsmen in quick style.

His figures of four overs, two maidens, and four wickets for five runs deservedly won him the player of the match award.

A score of 20 for five after seven overs left Puddletown with little hope and though Blair and Michael Crabb made some inroads with 23 runs each, the target was beyond them and they subsided to 89 for nine wickets, leaving Martinstown victorious by 33 runs, in the end a convincing margin.