CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 171 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 271-9 (20pts) by 100 runs

MARTINSTOWN are officially safe from Dorset Premier League relegation after beating Cattistock & Symene by 100 runs.

Charlie Durant’s men were only 29 points above bottom side Puddletown going into the game but their 20-point victory over the Foxes has moved them out of reach.

With two games remaining and only 40 points to play for, Martinstown are now 44 clear of Puddle.

Town now lie seventh having finished third in the 2021 campaign, that statistic underlining how the club has struggled this season.

READ MORE: Broadstone beat Martinstown by three wickets

Martinstown’s victory ended a run of six straight league losses and was only their fifth win of the whole campaign.

And thanks to a big score of 271-9 in their innings, Martinstown never seriously appeared troubled by the Foxes.

Robin Jones (3-45) exploited early movement to get rid of Ed Nichols (1) caught behind before taking a good return catch off Will Maltby (20), whose only scoring shots came from two fours and two sixes.

Martinstown recovered from 36-2 but soon found themselves 108-4 when Henry Lewis (39) and Tom Pope (8) fell to Ethan Robertson (2-53).

Sean Williams (58) kicked the score on with willing support from Sam Kershaw (20) and brother Finlay Williams (47), while late contributions from Durant (21no) and Jacob Coombs (15no) set the Foxes 272 to win.

Wes Lewis (8) and Luke King got the hosts off to a good start but Dave Trotter pinned the latter lbw before King went on the attack, smacking six fours and a maximum.

He raced to 32 before Trotter had him caught, and Ollie Nicholas (0) was next to go to Coombs (3-19) as the Foxes reached 62-3.

Martinstown were able to build pressure as Nicholas and Reuben Kingston scored a combined one run from 42 balls, although Steve Tucker (22) did his best to ease the situation with two maximums.

Durant (4-45) combined with Coombs as Kingston (1), Tucker and Sam Good (0) all fell with the score on 89.

Durant and Coombs continued to take wickets regularly but Ollie Legg (48) proved the main resistance on their path to victory.

The all-rounder fell cruelly short of what would have been a defiant half-century as his 45-run stand for the final wicket with Jones (10no) was ended by Kershaw (1-20).

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “I can’t complain. Sean, Finlay and Henry batted really nicely to get us up to a real decent total.

“Then with the ball, Dave was how he always is and Jacob bowled lovely first change. I managed to burgle four somehow, so it was nice.

“We can look forward to try and chase Broadstone. We’ve got two games left and if we can get sixth then I’ll be pretty happy.”

Martinstown host league leaders Poole on Saturday (1pm).

Martinstown Seconds lost to County Division Three leaders Cerne Valley by 172 runs and are 17 points off safety with two games remaining.