Beaminster beat Shillingstone by 93 runs

BEAMINSTER cruised to their fourth victory in five County Division Two games with a 93-run success at Shillingstone.

Chris Park’s men remain leaders, going into a crunch top-of-the-table clash at home to Chalke Valley this Saturday.

Beaminster were asked to bat on a hard surface after losing the toss and were promptly down to 16-2 as Will Moss and Ben Golledge both fell for one.

Tom Fowler (25) and Ross Baker steadied Beaminster and gradually began to apply pressure on the home attack with boundaries, while keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

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Fowler departed but Baker chalked up his first half-century of the season with a flurry of cover drives.

Baker cruelly fell 12 runs short of a deserved century having struck 11 boundaries and two maximums, leaving Beaminster on 166-4.

Late hitting from Simon Jones (19), Tim Hey (27no) and John Gudge (9no) helped Beaminster add 48 for the final five overs, carrying the visitors to 204-6 despite David Lockyer’s 2-23.

Shillingstone made a fast start in reply until Robin Cunningham (21) was dismissed in bizarre fashion, edging Jones behind off keeper Adam Moss and looping a catch to Golledge at slip.

Jones (3-29) showed great agility to take a diving return catch off Steve Savage (0) in the same over, and he struck again in his next set to remove James Miles (0) and leave the hosts on 29-3.

Johny Castleton continued to strike the ball with authority but Beaminster worked around him, Baker claiming 2-19 and Ollie Bareham 1-21, while Dorset Over-50s dangerman Ian Paulley (2) was run out.

Shillingstone’s middle and lower order simply could not support Castleton as Lahiru Abeywickrama (1-23) joined the party to trap Eddie Weedon (0) lbw and leave the hosts on 98-8.

And opening bowler Nick Hollely returned to remove Castleton for a well-made 66 before wrapping up Shill’s innings for 111, leaving them 93 runs short of victory.

Skipper Chris Park, who missed the clash, told the Bridport News: “I spoke to Ross and he said it was tough to start with, they bowled well.

“But I was so proud of Rosco. He’s struggled a bit with the bat this year and we thought we’d put him up to the opening spot. It really paid off for him, it freed him up.

“Ross always thrives on responsibility. Without his score it could’ve been closer.”

On the bowling, Park added: “Apart from the opening batters, they kept playing massive shots and getting out. If they batted properly they could’ve chased it because the wicket was OK.

“The bowlers all stuck to their line and length and they got themselves out. It was a fantastic win.”

Beaminster now face Chalke at the Memorial Ground on Saturday (1.30pm), and Park expects a serious test.

He said: “I said at the start of the season that Weymouth and Chalke Valley would cause us the most problems.

“Weymouth, we probably should’ve won but Chalke Valley is going to be very tough.

“I’m pleased with the side we’ve got out because it’s what I would’ve chosen at the start of the season.

“We’ve won four out of five, morale in the team is great but they are obviously a very good side and we’ll have to be at our best to beat them. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Park returns in place of Gudge, James Edmunds replaces Abeywickrama and Dan Hillier fills in for Hey.

Beaminster: Park, W Moss, Golledge, Baker, A Moss, Hillier, Fowler, Jones, O Bareham, Edmunds, Hollely.