DORCHESTER II 184-9 (20pts) beat CHARLTON DOWN 121 (6pts) by 63 runs

DORCHESTER Seconds persisted through challenging weather to beat rivals Charlton Down by 63 runs at Dorchester Rec.

Drizzle and bad light were constant menaces during this Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division Three contest as both sides pushed through to achieve a result having lost three months of the season to COVID-19.

Charlton Down won the toss and invited Dorchester to bat, the hosts’ innings starting badly as Rhys Cole (1), Remy Wood (6) and Josh Foot (4) were dismissed by the accurate bowling of Matt Stevens (2-18) and Nitin Joshi (2-34).

Joshi in particular excelled, taking an excellent low caught and bowled to remove Foot as Dorchester stumbled to 12-3.

Spinner Kim Park then removed the impressive Ben Mackin (6) with a smart low catch by Jack Eveleigh at slip for 39-4.

The talented Dan Morris looked in control for a big score as he regularly caressed the ball to the mid-off and cover boundary.

However with Morris on 32, Down captain Sam Roles (1-20) bowled a beauty which turned and lifted and took the outside edge to wicketkeeper Jude Gwennap with the score on 68-5.

Dorchester were rocking but Mike Peak (42) decided the best form of defence was attack and started to find the boundary on regular occasions.

Forging a partnership of 43 with captain Rob Nobbs (7) they took the score to 111-6 before James Pretty (1-21) bowled the latter.

The score soon became 138-8 when Kieran Heath (2-22) had all-rounder Peak caught at the second attempt by Roger Frapwell at short cover and then bowled the very talented wicketkeeper David Gray.

Late runs from youngsters Nathan Quinn (30no) and Rohan Scott (18), who batted for nearly an hour in a 44-run stand with good running between the wicket plus lusty drives and pulls, helped Dorchester recover to an impressive 184-9.

Charlton Down ‘s innings started well with Eveleigh (20) Matt Stevens (24) looking comfortable, bringing up the 50 partnership in just 10 overs.

However, the double change of Peak and Morris turned the match on its head as only 10 runs were added in next seven overs with the loss of four wickets.

Peak struck first, forcing a chop onto the stumps by Stevens.

Peak then had Roger Frapwell lbw for two. Morris copied the Stevens dismissal when he nicked the inside of Eveleigh’s bat, the ball thudding onto his stumps.

Peak then made it three wickets in three overs when he bowled the dangerous Roles for one.

And 60-4 soon became 95-7 as young talent Brandon King (2-21) claimed his first senior wickets.

It was left to Park to take the score to 121 with a cameo 14 not out before Foot (4-16) cleaned up the Charlton Down tail and eased Dorchester to a comfortable third successive victory in front of their home support.

Match sponsor: Boogie Bounce