MARTINSTOWN 187 (8pts) lost to SHERBORNE 230-6 (20pts) by 43 runs

MARTINSTOWN lost their unbeaten Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division One record as Sherborne triumphed by 43 runs at Lower Ashton Farm.

On a good batting surface, allied to the short boundaries at Martinstown, the visitors made a good start after winning the toss and batting first.

Despite Andy Nurton’s duck from 16 balls, Emlyn Kuhn (28) and M Kennedy (37) pressed on before Jamie Stewart (1-45) and Charlie Durant removed them at 113-3.

Captain Marc Lock (65) smacked seven boundaries and three sixes in his half-century before perishing to the pace of Will Maltby (4-46), who claimed the final two wickets as Sherborne closed on 230-6 from 40 overs.

Nurton (3-43) bagged the key scalp of Ed Nichols and Martinstown stumbled at 46-4 when Kuhn (3-56) captured Tao White (2) and Sean Williams (18), Paul Hancock (2-14) also claiming Finlay Williams (9).

Teddy Andrews (29) blasted four boundaries and a six in 16 balls before succumbing to Hancock, while Kuhn ousted Stewart (38) at 116-6.

With the run rate climbing, Maltby (25), captain Sam Kershaw (19) and Matt Camp (21no) all added late runs but could not elevate their side to victory as Nurton returned to mop up the tail.

Speaking to Echosport, Kershaw said: “The first 10 overs didn’t really go to plan and we didn’t kick on from there. We had wickets in hand but we never got going.

“The last 10 overs of our bowling cost us – they put on nearly 100 runs. 

“We knew if we got through their top four early we were in business. Until the last 10 overs it never felt like we were behind the game.

“We always said that anything on the 200 mark was chase-able but they just got away from us.”

He added: “Don’t get me wrong, there’s loads of positives to take from it. Jamie getting runs, Will (bowling).

“It’s frustrating as well because their bowling attack was one or two light.”