STALBRIDGE 220-3 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 172 (4pts) by 48 runs

BEAMINSTER are still chasing their first County Division One win of the season after losing by 48 runs to unbeaten Stalbridge.

Chris Park’s side, reigning Division Two champions, have suffered a poor start after rain curtailed their pre-season efforts.

And they toiled in the field after losing the toss at The Park as Stalbridge’s batters cashed in.

Stuart Sweatman (66) was a familiar foe and propelled the hosts to 130-1 after losing Will Coleman (12) to Ross Baker (1-23).

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Nick Hollely (2-34) bowled Sweatman and James Lewis (31) in quick succession but Beaminster would make no further breakthrough.

Stalbridge breezed along to 220-3 as Matt Dyer (34no) and Simon Sweatman (43no) finished unbeaten.

In reply, Beaminster lost wickets at regular intervals but brothers Will (27) and Adam Moss (41) helped carry them over the hundred mark.

Brad Damen (46) then took up the baton with four boundaries and a six but his departure to Ben Pattle (4-21) spelled the end as Stalbridge bowled Beaminster out for 172.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Park said: “The main reason is the lack of cricket.

“We haven’t been completely outplayed and if I’m brutally honest we should’ve won both games, we’re certainly cold.

“Especially (Stalbridge), we gave them too much of a head start. We bowled poorly and made some incorrect decisions.

“We can’t give someone like Stuart the gifts we were giving him. The vibe in the field was flat because Stuart was dominating.

“But I’m not too panicked, I think a win’s around the corner and the more we play the better we’re going to get in match situations.”

Next up for Beaminster is a home meeting with last season’s runners-up Witchampton on Saturday (1pm), who dismissed Puddletown for 76 last weekend.

Park said: “They’re a very strong side and I’ve never actually beaten them that I can think of.

“They’ve got a lot of good batsmen and bowlers. Having said that, everyone is beatable.

“We’ve certainly got to hit our straps, we can’t start the way we did against Stalbridge.

“We all know in cricket momentum’s a funny thing. Last year we didn’t expect to go on the run we did but winning became a habit.

“We’ve got to be careful that losing doesn’t become a habit in the same respect.”

Beaminster are without Damen (back) but Simon Jones returns.

Beaminster: Park, W Moss, Baker, Golledge, A Moss, Hillier, Jones, Bareham, Ronan, Hollely, Edwards.