MARTINSTOWN 125-9 beat WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 121 by one wicket

MARTINSTOWN held their nerve in an edgy finish to beat Wimborne & Colehill by one wicket at Lower Ashton Farm.

Victory ensured the Villagers finished seventh in Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division One after a low-scoring game.

Charlie Durant (3-27) and Nathan McNab (3-16) bowled superbly to help restrict the Minstermen to 121 all out.

Regular wickets stemmed Martinstown’s chase, despite a fine 38 from stand-in skipper Ed Nichols.

Joe Welch (6-22) did the bulk of the damage as the hosts lost their last wicket still requiring two for victory.

But Durant (5no) kept composed in a high-pressure situation to hit Dorset bowler Ed Bartlett (1-25) for the winning boundary.

Speaking to Echosport, Nichols said: “It was a good bowling performance from a young attack and kept them to 121 which should be winning more often than not.

“Then we lost a couple of early wickets but got to 90-3, which chasing 120 is not a bad place to be.

“Then the wheels came off and we ending up losing the ninth wicket needing a couple to win.

“Fortunately (Durant) got us over the line, so it was quite entertaining – I wouldn’t like to bat like that too often!

“We really enjoyed it, it was nice to see and have a laugh even when it got nervous at the end.

“It’s a really young team, as usual, and people are really stepping up.

“It’s just been a good season and where it’s so short we’ve got a few new faces bedded in.

“Hopefully we’ll carry it forward next year.”