BEAMINSTER 187-6 (20pts) beat DORCHESTER II 186-6 (7pts) by four wickets
BEAMINSTER continued their perfect start to the County Division Two season with a four-wicket success over Dorchester Seconds at the Memorial Ground.
Chris Park’s side backed up last week’s win at Parley Seconds with a well-judged chase in this derby.
Dorchester Seconds skipper Rob Nobbs won the toss and elected to bat first, thrusting Beaminster out into the field on a warm day.
But Nick Hollely (3-25) and Ross Baker (2-43) responded with a brace of wickets, the latter snaring two in two balls to dismiss Dorchester overseas star Arunn Samynathan (8) and Gabriel Mikurenda (0).
READ MORE: Beaminster beat Parley Seconds by 29 runs
Only Devon Derrien (29) had offered resistance up to that point, but his efforts were added to by Matt Porter (58), who cracked ten boundaries before Hollely returned to have him caught by Baker.
Nobbs (20no) and Ben Alford (14no) added cameos as Dorchester finished on 185-6 from their 45 overs.
Beaminster’s chase began solidly with Park (25) the sole casualty to Porter (3-46) as the hosts built up to 114-1.
Will Moss compiled a mature innings for his 50 until he was run out by Mikurenda.
And Porter struck twice more, removing new signings Ben Golledge (26) and Billy Wallbridge (1) as the hosts were cut back to 121-4.
But Beaminster were taken to victory by Adam Moss (43no), who continued his excellent early-season form with three boundaries and three sixes.
He helped pace the chase expertly, ignoring any sign of nerves as Beaminster got home with five balls to spare.
Speaking to the Bridport News, Park said: “I’m not the best watcher from the sidelines. I did a fair few laps of the pitch towards the end!
“But the lads were actually pretty confident, they were telling me to calm down.
“With Adam at the crease with the form he’s in, I can see why they were so confident.
“It was really hard work in the field but it was one of Nick’s finer spells for us, he beat the outside edge regularly.
“(Will) was my man of the match, he was brilliant. He was really steady in defence and calculated with his shots, just the complete opener’s innings.
“It was steady all the way through. Dorch did bowl well but as soon as Adam came in it was never really in doubt.”
On Saturday (1.30pm), Beaminster visit Corfe Mullen, who have lost both games so far.
Wallbridge and Simon Jones are unavailable, so Tom Fowler and debutant John Gurd come in but all-rounder James Butler has returned to Abbotsbury.
Beaminster: Park, W Moss, Golledge, A Moss, Baker, Fowler, J Gurd, Abeywickrama, Edmunds, H Everitt, Hollely.
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