DORCHESTER 138 (2pts) lost to BROADSTONE 139-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

LEADERS Dorchester suffered a minor setback in their pursuit of the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League title as Broadstone completed the double over the county town side with a big nine-wicket win at Rec.

Home captain James Dunham warned of 2017 champions Broadstone’s quality in the pre-match build-up and Dorchester failed to heed his caution, slumping to 37-7 after being invited to bat.

Only a fine 60-run eighth-wicket stand between Dan Belt (53) and Ben Macklin (22) helped push Dorchester into three figures as the league’s pacesetters were bowled out for 138, mirroring their total in the reverse fixture at Delph Woods in May.

In that contest Broadstone had made just 183-8 but the visiting batsmen were put under little pressure at the Rec after negotiating a fine opening spell from Belt (0-20 from 10 overs).

Dunham (1-39) bowled Ashley Collison (16) but James Park (68no) and Luke Carter (28no) batted with patience and control to serenely guide Broadstone to a 20-point victory, moving to within 15 points of Dorchester in fourth.

Broadstone applied pressure to the league leaders from the off, bypassing the toss and bowling first.

Conditions slightly favoured the bowling side but the miserly Mike Holm (1-9 off seven overs) trapped Nick Roe leg before for a golden duck in the second over.

Simon Mitchem (9) dug in for 40 balls but he was next to fall – quickly followed by James Caldwell (1) as Caleb Rowe (2-19) dismissed both men to reduce the hosts to 25-3.

And, when Eral Anderson (5) was bowled by Pete Russell (1-10) for 32-4, Dorchester lost the first of four wickets for just five runs.

Chief protagonist in that mini collapse was Steve Trembath (3-15) who tempted Jim Ryall (13), Mike Peak (2) and Jamie Barrett (0) into snicking to wicketkeeper Daniel Cook, who claimed a superb five catches behind the stumps.

It was suddenly left to the dependable Belt and Macklin to first steady the ship from 37-7 and then guide Dorchester away from an embarrassingly low total.

Macklin eventually edged Matt Spraggs (1-35) to Cook for 97-8 but Belt continued, registering a valiant half-century containing two fours and a maximum.

Belt’s knock was supplemented by Josh Richardson (10) and Dunham (14no) until the former two perished to Peter Thompson (2-23), Broadstone using seven bowlers to bundle Dorchester out for 138.

If Belt’s batting had been valuable, his bowling went unrewarded as the former Dorset all-rounder bowled three maidens in his spell.

Dorchester required early wickets if they were to make any sort of impression on the away side’s innings and Dunham castled Collison for 28-1.

But Park and Carter, 2018’s top runscorer in Dorset, steadily constructed an unbeaten stand of 111 – the former cracking 10 boundaries ­– as Broadstone claimed their seventh victory in 11 matches this season.

Speaking to Echosport, Dunham praised what he felt had been the best bowling attack Dorchester had faced in 2019.

He said: “They bowled very well, probably the best bowling performance we’ve seen all season.

“Conditions probably helped them a little bit but they didn’t give us anything and that reflected the score – we were 37-7 at one point.

“So, if I’m honest, we did quite well to get 138. We knew at halfway that that was 20, 30 if not 40 runs short.

“Credit to Broadstone, they played very well and outplayed us from ball one.”

One positive for Dunham was the strength in depth of Dorchester’s lower order.

“We talk about our depth, but we needed that,” he explained. “I think from seven down we deserved credit.

“Dan batted very well and bowled the best he’s ever bowled not getting a wicket.

“Dan was the stand-out performer but we just weren’t good enough to get over the line, which was a shame.”

Dorchester’s attentions now turn to a potentially pivotal clash at second-placed Sherborne on Saturday (1pm), Marc Lock’s men having lost to Poole by two wickets.

Dunham said: “I didn’t think we were going to go the rest of the season unbeaten.

“Sherborne are a good side and it’s a game we’re looking forward to, one that’s important for the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, in County Division Three, Dorchester Seconds lost by 11 runs to Kingston Lacy.

The county town’s second team host Sherborne Seconds on Saturday (1.30pm).

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil