Beaminster beat Hamworthy Recreation by six wickets

BEAMINSTER took back-to-back wins in an ultra-attacking clash with Hamworthy Rec, prevailing by six wickets at the Memorial Ground after just four hours of play.

Hamworthy, making one of the longest trips in the league, could only field ten players after a late withdrawal and elected to bat upon winning the toss.

And they dismissed anything in their arc in a blistering start to the game, Matt Avery (11) hitting a six and a four before being castled by Simon Jones (3-29).

Young talent Henry Hansford-Harvey (1-39) then bowled Nathan Peters (4) but Hamworthy did not waver from their attacking philosophy.

READ MORE: Beaminster thrash Swanage by nine wickets

Alex Peel (32) struck seven fours in his 31-ball stay and Jacob Berry (18) smashed four boundaries in his 16-ball innings before Ross Baker (4-46) removed both.

Jones then picked up two more wickets but Curtis Driver (25) and Toby Berry (22) dished out more punishment until Baker ousted the pair.

Leg-spinner Ollie Bareham (1-18) then dismissed last man Paul Driver, whose 13 included three fours in just six balls.

With Hamworthy all out for 163, Beaminster had a modest target to chase but lost Will Moss (2) to Avery (1-23) early on.

Ben Golledge (12) and Dan Hillier (11) also fell cheaply to leave Beaminster on 71-3 but Rich Runyard proved a reliable partner for skipper Chris Park as the duo shared 76.

Park (62) passed 50 with a strong knock at the top of the order, hitting eight fours in his 81-ball innings before Cameron Basey (1-22) snuck one through his defences.

Hamworthy were guilty of bowling a whopping 40 extras in just 27.3 overs as Beaminster were gifted easy runs.

Meanwhile, Runyard (34no) had scored early boundaries to settle himself and he picked up where Park left off, guiding the hosts to a quick victory along with Jones (7no).

Speaking to the Bridport News, Park said: “It was a very strange game, we were done by 5 o’clock.

“It was carnage. The first 15 overs it was four, six, wicket. Every over there was runs, they came out swinging from ball one.

“They only had ten men, so whether they felt they had to come out on the front foot from the off, I don’t know.”

Park added: “We had a depleted bowling attack and I decided Henry had to open to get him in the game.

“Bless him, he took a wicket but he went for a lot. I had to turn to Simon again, Mr Reliable, and he got us back into it but at the other end they were still scoring runs.

“After 20 overs we nearly had them all out. It was high-octane stuff.

“Having watched them bat we knew we only had to beat the infield and the ball was flying.

“We lost a couple of wickets to good balls but I felt if we had one really good partnership we’d win and Rich smashed his first three or four for four, took the pressure off me and it was quite comfortable from there.”

On Saturday, Park leads Beaminster against the aggressive Portland Red Triangle at Reforne (1pm).

Simon Jones misses out for Beaminster at Portland (Image: GRAHAM HUNT)

Triangle are known for their attacking brand of cricket but Beaminster come into the game with back-to-back wins over Swanage and Hamworthy Rec.

And Park is up for the challenge on the island, telling the Bridport News: “It’s a quick outfield, they’re aggressive but we’ve got form with that now having played against Hamworthy.

“We’ll try and take wickets regularly, back ourselves. We’ll go there with the same intent we’ve had the last few games.

“They’re only just above us in the table and we’re on a roll now.”

Beaminster, in seventh, trail Portland by two points and will leapfrog the islanders with victory.

Park added: “The top teams in Div One are very good. From mid-table down is the level we’re on and I think we could be top of that pile.

“It’s important we take these games by the scruff of the neck and show we’re capable, which I know we are. These are the games we need to stamp our authority on.”

Brad Damen (back) is out but pacer Ben Fry will make his debut at the expense of Simon Jones, while spinner Paul Edwards replaces Henry Hansford-Harvey.

Beaminster: Park, W Moss, Golledge, Hillier, Runyard, Fry, A Moss, Baker, Bareham, Edwards, Hollely.