STALBRIDGE 123ao (1pt) lost to DORCHESTER 124-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

A RUTHLESS Dorchester bowling performance saw them take the full 20 points with a straightforward nine wicket win over Stalbridge in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

County town captain James Dunham took three wickets after his one-game absence from the side, while Jamie Barrett, Dan Belt and Josh Richardson all took two wickets.

Dorchester won the toss and elected to field, in a decision that almost instantly paid off.

Dunham trapped Stalbridge openers James Lewis (2) and Stuart Sweatman (5) lbw with the home side only able to put on eight runs.

Two runs later, Seb Carty was caught by Barrett from a Belt delivery as Dorchester set a dominant early tone.

George Coleman (36) and Andy Dike (29no) both fought on well, facing 70 and 87 balls respectively, as the home side were able eke out their innings to 46.2 overs, but without ever piling on the runs.

Ultimately, the home side were all out after a Belt catch from a Richardson delivery ended the innings at 123.

After the break, it was a straightforward affair for the visiting side, who chased down the total in the 33rd over.

Opener Jim Ryall (13) was caught by Jon Fryer from a Stuart Sweatman (1-13) delivery with the county town side on 34 runs.

However, the partnership of Nick Roe (56no) and Mike Peak (33no) then saw Dorchester to victory, their third in four games.

Dorchester captain Dunham praised the consistency shown by his team, emphasising how they had to stay patient throughout Stalbridge’s innings with the bat.

Dunham said: “We took three early wickets, myself and Dan (Belt) started very tight, took their kind of big wickets early.

“We remained consistent, we were out in the field for 48 overs, so we had to remain patient throughout the whole innings, so to bowl the side out and get 20 points, it’s very good.”

Dunham praised opponents Stalbridge, but was glad to see Dorchester rise to the test, as he said: “It is easy when you look at the scorecard to think that we rolled Stalbridge, when in fact we didn’t.

“They nearly batted out their full overs, which tested our patience, it tested our skills and we rose to that.”

Dorchester host Christchurch on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds secured a 146-run victory over Stalbridge Seconds in County Division Three.