BLANDFORD 198 (19pts) beat MARTINSTOWN 132 (7pts) by 66 runs

MARTINSTOWN captain Charlie Durant likened his side’s batting strength to a “poppadom” after a 66-run defeat at Blandford in the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League.

Charlie Durant’s winless side were bowled out for 132 chasing a modest 199 for victory as promoted side Blandford claimed another scalp in their impressive start to the new season.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Blandford were reduced to 95-6 including the key wicket of Luke Carter (16), snaffled by Ryan Blair off Jacob Coombs (1-42).

Fraser Hill (3-34) and Durant (2-37) had taken two wickets apiece before a defiant 83 from Gus Mitchell, including 12 fours, pushed Blandford to 198 all out after Jack Kane (3-23) impressively mopped up the tail.

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However, Martinstown lacked partnerships with the bat as only opener Steve Gerety (47) and number 11 Durant (19no) made scores of any substance, six batters falling in single figures.

Robert Harding (3-27) was the pick of Blandford’s attack as the hosts dismissed Town for just 132 in 28.2 overs.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “We had them 90-odd for six and bowled really well. (Mitchell) played a great knock and got them to a decent total.

“It was nice to see Jack Kane making the step up, he mopped up the tail nicely.”

Durant was far more critical of the batting, though.

“It’s hard to comment. We just bottle it,” he admitted. “We’ve got all the tensile strength of a poppadom, the top order.

“We were 71-6 and none for two last week. The bottom line is that it’s simply not good enough to win a game when you can’t score more than 200.”

Blandford Seconds completed a club double over Martinstown, beating their second team by seven wickets in County Division Four.