STURMINSTER & HINTON 161 (5pts) lost to BEAMINSTER 165-3 (22pts) by seven wickets

BEAMINSTER maintained their position at the top of County Division Two with a seven-wicket win at struggling Sturminster & Hinton.

Chris Park’s men bowled their opponents out for 161 and managed to chase down their target with a full ten overs remaining as form batters Ross Baker and Adam Moss fired again.

Park won the toss, chose to field and his bowlers delivered on his call to improve from last week’s defeat at Charlton Down.

READ MORE: Beaminster fail to defend 252 at Charlton Down

Beaminster ensured none of Sturminster’s top three batters hit double figures, with wickets shared for James Edmunds (3-32), Simon Jones (3-17) and Baker (2-40).

And Edmunds held a chance off Baker to snare the dangerous Aj Rose (17) as Sturminster lost their fourth wicket.

Jones then struck to remove Chris Reed (16) and James Green (0) for a double-wicket maiden and another key scalp followed when leg-spinner Ollie Bareham (2-20) had big-hitting Henry Porter (16) caught in the deep.

But Chris Job (27) and Harry Lewis (25) rallied late on as Sturminster set Beaminster 162 to win.

James Green (3-27) had Will Moss (8) and Ben Golledge (12) caught early in Beaminster’s reply but Park began to take the fight to the home attack.

Park had launched Lewis for six in his 37 but his stay was ended when Porter held a sensational catch to pouch a difficult chance as Beaminster fell to 66-3.

That introduced Adam Moss (45no) to the crease and he displayed his full array of shots, smashing two sixes and five boundaries with Baker (42no) in support, the latter hitting five fours and a six.

The duo ensured Beaminster coasted home to underline their status as league leaders.

Speaking to the Bridport News: “It was really pleasing to win a game comfortably for the first time this season.

“I was delighted with the performance. Last week I was upset with the way we bowled and fielded and they were the complete opposite (on Saturday), they bounced back fantastically.

“We should’ve bowled them out for under a hundred but they had a couple of partnerships.

“It was one of the best wickets we’ve played on this season. I went out with a positive mindset to try and get some early runs.

“As soon as I got out, I don’t want to sound big-headed, it almost looked predictable when Adam and Ross got together that they were going to knock the 96 runs off.

“They never looked in any trouble, it was almost the complete performance.”

Beaminster now entertain Shaftesbury on Saturday (1.30pm), with the visitors all-round strength set to pose a more serious examination of the league leaders.

Park said: “I’m looking forward to it. The thing I’m noticing in this league is that the games are so tight everyone can beat everyone.

“We’ve got to be on our game, regardless of where they are in the table. We’ve got to be on our mettle to try and get another win.”

Beaminster make three changes, with Lahiru Abeywickrama, Ollie Bareham and Tom Fowler missing out, while Tim and Ollie Hey plus Henry Everitt come in.

Beaminster: Park, W Moss, Golledge, Baker, A Moss, T Hey, Jones, O Hey, Hollely, Edmunds, H Everitt.