DORCHESTER 149-7 (8pts) lost to BERE REGIS 158-6 (16pts) by nine runs
BERE Regis ended Dorchester’s eight-match winning streak at home with a slender nine-run victory in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.
James Dunham’s men had not been beaten on their home turf since July 2019, when a Luke Carter-inspired Broadstone claimed an emphatic nine-wicket victory.
But Bere Regis defeated Dorchester away for the first time in four years since gaining promotion to Dorset’s top tier in 2017.
Dorchester groundsman and opening batsman Jim Ryall fought off wild weather during the week to prepare the pitch for this game.
However, the match was still affected by the elements as only 27 overs were possible per side.
READ MORE: Dorchester win final-ball thriller with Poole
With the contest now more akin to T20 conditions, Bere openers Matt King and Rich Cole defied losing the toss in bowler-friendly circumstances.
The duo raced to 90-0 as King, despite nursing a hamstring issue, blasted a superb 65 from 58 balls containing 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Off-spinner Jamie Barrett then made the breakthrough as King offered a catch to Dan Belt.
Cole continued on and shared 33 for the second wicket with Tim Goodhew, whose 18 included two maximums.
But Barrett had the answer to stemming the flow of runs as he had Goodhew caught by Josh Richardson and removed Rob Murphy (1) and Cameron Robertson (0) in successive balls.
Barrett missed out on his hat-trick but ousted Cole (43) with the next delivery to claim excellent figures of 5-28 from his six overs.
Simon Mitchem (1-8) then bowled Dave Griffiths (6) late on as Bere posted a testing 158-6.
Needing just shy of a run-per-ball, Dorchester made a positive start in racing to 40-0 before Jack Owens (18) was run out.
New man Eral Anderson (32 from 27 balls) took the game to Bere with Ryall (27) but the introduction of Sam Goodhew (3-30) turned the screw.
The off-spinner, like Barrett, tore through the top order. He accounted for Ryall, Anderson and Mitchem as Dorchester stuttered to 86-4.
Fellow spinner Griffiths (1-17) claimed the key wicket of Belt (1) and the Dorchester middle order suddenly required 44 from the final three overs.
Former Dorset spinner Sean Walbridge (1-35) had Jon Legg (13) stumped but Dan Morris (21no) scored fluently to keep the chase alive.
Dorchester needed an unlikely 26 from the final over but gained hope when young leg-spinning all-rounder Robertson bowled a wide before Barrett (14no) hoisted a superb six over deep cover.
Robertson varied his pace and length expertly to halt the boundary-hitting as Barrett and Morris were only able to carry the reigning champions to three losing bonus points.
Speaking after a rare win over Dorchester, Bere captain Brian Keegan was understandably proud of his team.
He told Echosport: “The way Matt opened up, he took the attack to them and helped set up a base.
“Once he went, Rich started to accelerate and got us to a competitive total.
“Our spinners bowled well and bowled through the top of the wicket, rather than just placing it there.
“The wicket was a little two-paced because of the weather. When one stops on you, it’s difficult.
“Credit to Dorch, they played well but I’m over the moon. Hopefully it kick-starts our season (after) the first game reverse against Martinstown and the two rained off fixtures.
“It proves what we can do and shows the talent. It was a good all-round performance.”
Opposition skipper Dunham said: “A smaller amount of overs in any game levels it out, but they played very well.
“It was a good game considering the rain and the difference was Matt King, he batted well at the top of the innings.
“We did well to keep it down to 150, I thought they were going to push on to 180 at one point.”
On the run chase, he added: “I thought the first three (batsmen) were pushing with boundaries but then we went quiet in the middle. They starved us of boundaries.
“We wanted to get within 10 per cent for the extra points, which we did, but ultimately we lost and it wasn’t the outcome we wanted.”
Dorchester visit early pacesetters Martinstown on Saturday, while Bere host Christchurch (both 1pm).
Bere Regis Seconds beat Royal Challengers Sports by 102 runs in County Division Four, while Dorchester Seconds beat Shaftesbury by four wickets in County Division Two.
CONTACT ME:
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@dorsetecho.co.uk
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