CHARLTON DOWN 212-5 (20pts) beat CRANBORNE 68 (2pts) by 144 runs

CHARLTON Down returned to winning ways with a 144-run victory over 10-man Cranborne in County Division Three.

Victory ensured second-placed Down kept pace with league leaders Chalke Valley, who thrashed Hamworthy Seconds by 187 runs to maintain a seven-point gap at the top.

Charlton Down captain Jack Eveleigh (51) led from the front with a half-century and a 54-run opening partnership with in-form Cameron Lucas (38).

Roger Frapwell added a quick 22 before Nick Voss (49) and Matt Stevens (25) plundered 60 runs in just seven overs to push the score to 212-5, Kean Gorgirzadeh (2-57) the only Cranborne bowler to take more than one wicket.

In defence of their total, the left-arm, right-arm combination of Mark Homewood (3-13) and Dan Stevens (1-8) both bowled beautifully conceding just 21 runs in the first 10 overs.

Homewood struck early to remove the top three batsmen with only 16 on the board and, when Stevens removed Andy Bettie (2), the Cranes were struggling on 16-4.

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Gorgirzadeh (42) rallied for the visitors with 38 of his runs coming from boundaries.

The all-rounder clubbed five sixes and two boundaries, boosting the score to 68 before Joe Taylor (4-21) produced his best bowling figures to sweep up the tail and secure a 20-point win.

Next on Charlton Down’s agenda is a home clash with fifth-placed Kingston Lacy on Saturday (1.30pm).