BERE REGIS 218-5 (2pts) beat MARTINSTOWN 171-8 (0pts) by 47 runs & BERE REGIS 168-9 (2pts) beat MARTINSTOWN 140-8 (0pts) by 28 runs

BERE Regis collected full points from their opening Dorset League T20 South West fixtures against Martinstown.

Brian Keegan’s men returned healthy margins of victory in both games, beating 10-man Town by 47 runs in the first rubber, before triumphing by 28 runs in the second.

Both sides came into the weekend top of their respective divisions in the 50-over format, but Bere justified their favourites tag in the first T20.

Piling on 218-5, the hosts were inspired by destructive hitting.

READ MORE: Bere Regis lose to Poole Town by nine runs

Cam Robertson’s magnificent 103 not out from 53 balls was backed up by Tim Goodhew’s brutal 78 from 34 deliveries, including six sixes.

Town’s Fin Williams emerged the pick of the bowlers, with 3-29, and he fired with the bat when scoring 36 from 21 balls in the reply.

His work came after Henry Lewis (39) and Ry Gerety (44) both made storming starts, only for their dismissals to bring about a steady flow of wickets.

Dean Rogerson (3-30) and Rich Payne (3-41) did the business as the run rate climbed, allowing Bere to cash in for an opening win.

With the pitch showing signs of wear, batting conditions became trickier and Bere profited from inviting Town to field in the second T20.

Robertson this time managed 32 from 26 balls, while opening partner Theo Talbot struck 19 from 13.

More powerful strokeplay from Goodhew, who weighed in with 49 from 33 balls, helped Bere post 168-9, spinner George Pope taking 3-23.

Pope was the key figure in Town’s chase, too, striking 43 after Pete Macklin (2-26) had struck to bowl in-form Gerety (19).

Bere continued the squeeze with all of their bowlers claiming wickets, Rogerson bowling a rare maiden on his way to 2-32.

Martinstown’s Adam Kepple (22no) and Will Harris (13no) quickly put on 32 but Bere once again mastered the conditions to leave the duo with too much to do.

Speaking after the double win, Bere skipper Brian Keegan told Echosport: “Obviously, we’re a fairly slow-scoring side!

“From that perspective, we might’ve changed perceptions.

“Cam batted extremely well and Tim’s batting was brutal. Once he got going, there was no stopping him.

“The two between them took the game completely and utterly away from the opposition.”

Keegan added: “The second game, Tim with 49, Cam with 32 and a few other scores around, we got to 168 as the pitch played slower with more wear and tear.

“It was about spreading the field, keeping it tight and staying patient.

“Pete with 2-26 was not bad for his second game in a year.”

Losing skipper Charlie Durant said: “It was a little frustrating because we had two good performances.

“In the first game we batted quite well but bowled fairly poorly and they had a massive total on the board.

“In the second game, we bowled and fielded much better but we weren’t quite up to it batting wise.

“At the same time, it was quite a tough pitch to bat on by the time the fourth innings came around.

“Their spinners made hay. The scores show it got consecutively lower throughout the day. I think we did OK, we held our own.”

Asked if Town’s lack of experience with the pink ball had an impact, Durant said: “They had a little bit of an advantage.

“I was surprised how much it swung but we’ve got two more games and we’re used to it now, we can’t use it as an excuse going forward.”

Elsewhere, Bere Regis Seconds beat Broadstone Seconds by 35 runs in County Division Two, while Martinstown Seconds lost by six wickets to Marnhull Seconds in Division Four.