BERE REGIS 166-4 (16pts) beat WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 129-6 (4pts) by 42 runs (DLS method)

BERE Regis continued their sizzling sequence of wins with a 42-run victory over Wimborne & Colehill in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

Despite rain impacting the game, Bere claimed their fifth straight success and are on course for their highest finish since a 2017 promotion to Dorset’s top flight, in fourth.

Bere again gauged the balance between attack and caution to perfection, with Matt King and Dave Griffiths making a steady start after Wimborne won the toss and fielded.

Although King (33) and Sam Goodhew (0) were removed in quick succession by Ben Bridgen (2-29), Bere had set a good platform at 63-2.

That base of runs allowed Cameron Robertson to fire 35 from 23 deliveries, including four boundaries and two sixes.

Rich Cole also added 21 from 15 balls but Griffiths was left stranded on 49 not out from his 95 balls, carrying his bat for what was a vital knock.

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Between them, Bere’s batsmen posted a defendable 166-4 from 36 overs before more rain bumped up Wimborne’s target to 172 from 33 overs.

Bowling second, Rob Murphy (1-22) crucially bowled danger man Colin Randall (0) cheaply and Bere’s spinners once more strangled their opponents.

Griffiths (1-25) got rid of Bridgen (15) – scorer of a century in the reverse fixture – but chief tormentor for Wimborne’s batsmen was Sean Walbridge (4-8).

Walbridge conceded just eight runs from his seven overs as the ex-Dorset bowler ripped through the middle order.

Lewis Freak (35), Tom Butcher (22), James Miller (20no), Joe Welch (0) and Graham Cole (2) all perished to leave the Minstermen on 94-6.

Wimborne skipper Harry Prince scored a late enterprising 25 not out but the required run rate was far too high for the visitors to win as Bere closed out the victory.

Speaking to Echosport, Bere captain Brian Keegan said: “Dave batted the whole innings for 49 and anchored it.

“Then Cameron hit 35 and gave the impetus to us, and we got to 166-4.

“When it came to us in the field, it was a case of trying to control what went on.

“The stand-out figures were Sean. He’s been bowling well all season but the last two weeks he’s just found a rhythm and he’s extracting quite a bit of turn out of the wickets.

“Unless you can pick him it’s extremely difficult to bat against.

“He managed to get the ball through the top of the surface and with 4-8 off seven he was a captain’s dream.”

Bere Regis Seconds beat Poole Town Thirds by eight wickets in County Division Four.