BERE REGIS 81 (4pts) lost to POOLE TOWN 142-9 (17pts) by 61 runs

BERE Regis crashed to 81 all out as Poole Town claimed a 61-run victory in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

Poole’s triumph keeps them in pursuit of leaders Dorchester, four points adrift of second-placed Martinstown.

But for Bere, the outcome consolidated sixth place – perhaps disappointingly after restricting Poole to 142-9.

Poole were 5-2 when Rob Murphy (3-34) removed openers Aryan Mehta (0) and Andrew Ruston (1).

Spinners Sam Goodhew (1-34) and Sean Walbridge helped turn the screw before young Tom Munnings (1-35) collected the prize wicket of Badrul Alam (29).

Poole did score well late on, surviving a couple of dropped catches as David Miller (27) and Lewis Marais (21) helped set a 143 target on a Bere Regis pitch offering plenty of movement for the bowlers.

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Sure enough, Bere’s chase began poorly when Alam (2-13) took out in-form Matt King (0) and Goodhew (5).

Murphy (4) also went cheaply and, when Tim Goodhew went for just one from a painstaking 28 balls, Bere were in trouble at 30-4.

Opener Rich Cole (13) was next to go, followed by Munnings (7) and Louis Meaden (0) as Bere were reduced to 64-7.

Cameron Robertson (23) provided some resistance with two maximums but his departure to Dan Jackson preceded a swift end to the game as Jackson (4-6) demolished the tail to wrap up the victory.

Bere captain Brian Keegan told Echosport: “I thought we bowled and fielded really well.

“I couldn’t ask for anything else effort-wise but ultimately we put down a couple of chances and it effectively put 30 runs on their total.

“We should’ve been chasing about 110 and we always knew it was going to be difficult when it came to our reply.

“Nobody really got going. Cam got 23, Rich batted a long time for his 13 but credit to Poole they bowled and fielded better than us and took their chances.

“I can’t really grumble. We were beaten by the better side on the day.

“That’s what it comes down to. It was a bowler-friendly day on a wicket that was doing a bit and ultimately they did everything they needed to, hence why we ended up losing by 61.

“Yes, the result’s disappointing but it’s the batting that’s let us down.”

In County Division Four, Bere Regis Seconds beat Ashmore by eight wickets.

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