WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 191-6 (5pts) lost to DORCHESTER 145-2 (revised target, 18pts) by eight wickets

DORCHESTER made a winning start to their Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League title defence with a rain-affected eight-wicket victory at rivals Wimborne & Colehill.

The county town side have won back-to-back trophies and their quest for an historic hat-trick began with what proved to be a comfortable win at the Leaze.

Thanks to a dry April, many surfaces in Dorset are offering little assistance for bowlers. Nevertheless, Dorchester won the toss and fielded first.

Vice-captain Nick Roe, subbing in for the injured James Dunham, was vindicated when Dorset all-rounder James Caldwell (2-17) bowled key man Colin Randall (8) plus Mark House (9) early on.

Ben Bridgen (58) and Lewis Freak (44) rebuilt for the Minstermen with a fluent 95 stand including 13 boundaries.

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Dorchester had to tighten the scoring with their wealth of spinners and Jon Legg (1-26) obliged, castling Freak before Jamie Barrett (2-32) struck twice as Bridgen and James Miller (8) fell.

Late hitting from Tom Butcher (30no) and Graham Cole (27) edged Wimborne to 191-6 from their 45 overs.

Rain intervened before Dorchester’s chase, setting them a more difficult target of 145 from 28 overs.

Jim Ryall (2) perished to Ollie Woodruff (1-30) in the third over but new man Seb Carty scored swiftly in response.

Opener Jack Owens (12) went cheaply but Dorchester were bubbling nicely on 59-2 thanks to Carty’s confident strokeplay.

Dorchester’s powerful batting was on full display as number four Eral Anderson also scored over one-a-ball.

Carty (66 off 51 balls) hit nine fours and Anderson (57 off 53) five boundaries as both men compiled fine half-centuries, steering Dorchester to victory with four overs to spare.

Speaking to Echosport, Roe said: “Wimborne batted pretty well first dig. We got a couple of early wickets then they had a partnership.

“For us, the pitch was a lot harder and better quality than we thought it was going to be for early season.

“It was Jon and Jamie that brought the game back for us. They were never going at a run-a-ball.

“They crept up to 190 and we always back ourselves to score 200-plus with the batting we’ve got – then it rained!

“It was 145 off 28 we were chasing and it makes it a different game. It became less about the wickets we had in hand and more about getting over the line with the run rate.

“Seb and Eral batted really well and went at more than a run-a-ball – in contrast to the partnership Wimborne had.

“It looked a lot more comfortable than it was.”

After pre-season losses to Bournemouth and Poole, Roe was delighted to bag a victory.

“It was nice to get that winning feeling back,” he said.

“Maybe that little leveller to come back and do the simple stuff (worked).

“The two teams we played against – their big guys stood up.

“With the ball Jon and Jamie did that on Saturday and with the bat Seb and Eral were brilliant. Long may it continue.”

Dorchy host T20 Cup victors Poole Town at the Rec on Saturday (1pm).

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