MARTINSTOWN 165-9 (3pts) lost to POOLE TOWN 166-1 (19pts) by nine wickets

MARTINSTOWN were heavily beaten by nine wickets as Dorset Premier League leaders Poole Town edged closer to the title.

Martinstown struggled with the willow after winning the toss and batting first as Poole’s slow bowlers steadily ground them down.

Openers Ed Nichols (35) and Sean Williams (27) made a good start, guiding the Villagers to 77-1 before a collapse to 112-7 ensued with Joe Wilson (4-14) doing most of the damage.

Seamer Jordan Down (2-37) returned to take two late wickets but an inspired 40 not out from Finlay Williams pushed Martinstown to 165-9 and denied Poole maximum bowling points.

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Martinstown missed a run-out chance to dismiss Lewis Marais early in the Poole innings and the opener duly made the hosts pay.

He constructed a superb 131-run stand with Jordan Betts and survived a chance off Sam Kershaw, dropped by skipper Charlie Durant.

Betts (52) passed his half-century before falling to Durant (1-49) having hit seven boundaries and a six, but Marais continued on.

He struck 83 not out from 90 balls, including 11 fours and three sixes, to break the back of the chase.

And a late cameo of 12 not out from eight balls by Badrul Alam finished the job as Poole won with a whopping 22.1 overs to spare.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “I don’t think we did a lot wrong.

“We struggled with the bat but they’ve got Joe Wilson and they were just going to strangle us when they set their fields and bowl brilliantly.

“Finlay at the end batted superbly and got us up to a respectable total that we could bowl at.

“Obviously, 165 is never going to be enough at our ground. I thought we did OK with the ball but if we don’t take our chances we’re not going to win.

“We just beaten by the better team, I don’t think we’ve disgraced ourselves at all.”

Elsewhere, Martinstown Seconds must overhaul a 17-point gap to Kingston Lacy to avoid relegation on the final day of the County Division Three season.

That is despite a seven-wicket win at Broadstone Seconds in which Jenson Stewart claimed 6-22 as Martinstown bowled their opponents out for 51.