POOLE TOWN 245-7 (20pts) beat MARTINSTOWN 79 (3pts) by 166 runs

MARTINSTOWN endured a grim opening day of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League season as champions Poole Town flew to a 166-run victory at Poole Park.

After winning the toss and choosing to field in bowler-friendly conditions, Martinstown’s attack chipped away with regular wickets, reducing Poole to 102-5.

However, Richard Armstrong’s classy unbeaten 108, one of the innings of the day in Dorset, plus Mitchell Wilson’s 57, took the game away from the Villagers.

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Some 24 extras helped Poole post an imposing 245-7 from their 50 overs and Martinstown were then blown away by Wilson’s performance with the ball.

Playing for Poole before parent club Bashley begin their Southern League season, Wilson showed his class with a devastating burst of 4-5 from eight overs.

Jenson Stewart (1-26) took a wicket against his former side but Jacob Coombs (24) smeared an enormous six in his fine counter-attacking innings.

However, the wily slower bowling of Joe Wilson (2-23) and off-spinner Joey Wormington (3-24) polished off the Martinstown innings for 79 after they had been 31-6.

Martinstown skipper Charlie Durant told Echosport: “It was a weird game, actually.

“When we were bowling and fielding I didn’t feel we were out of it at all. It wasn’t like we bowled badly, they just ran well and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way.

“We dropped the guy who got runs. It was a tough chance but if you take that it’s a different game.

“And they had that lad from Bashley who just tore us apart at the top but we don’t take it to heart. It looks worse on paper than reality.”

Martinstown Seconds experienced different fortunes, beating Hamworthy Rec Seconds by eight wickets in Division Four.