BEAMINSTER 216-9 (6pts) lost to CHALKE VALLEY 217-3 (19pts) by seven wickets

BEAMINSTER were outclassed in County Division One as Chalke Valley claimed a seven-wicket victory at the Memorial Ground.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, Chris Park’s men were faced with a quality attack.

Left-arm seamer Rupert Thomas (3-34) bowled with hostility and found movement off the seam both ways, bowling Rich Runyard (3) early on.

Will Senior (1-35) then picked up the wicket of Will Moss (1) and Beaminster were suddenly forced to lean on the experience of two batters to fend off the Chalke pace attack.

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Ben Golledge and Park himself were the duo tasked with resurrecting the innings and they did so superbly.

Golledge scored 79 before he was cleaned up by Thomas and Park managed 48 before holing out off Joe Weld (1-38).

Simon Jones (22no) added late runs and Beaminster also benefitted from 37 extras as they reached 216-9 from their 45 overs.

Chalke’s reply was stunted by good work from leg-spinner Ollie Bareham (2-57), who removed big-hitting Glenn Willoughby (15) and Ollie Senior (7).

However, the classy Weld (90) soon took over as Chalke merrily crashed along at more than six runs per over.

Weld’s dominance was nearly ended but for a difficult dropped catch by Ross Baker.

After surviving that chance, the Chalke skipper was matched by the serene strokeplay of Guy Souch (88no) as the duo quickly took the game away from Beaminster.

In an effort to find the breakthrough, Park (1-2) used nine bowlers, including himself, and he did prise Weld away from the crease when Runyard pouched a good catch.

Chalke were at this point on the brink of victory, though, as Souch took Valley over the winning line along with Arthur Moore (5no) following just 34 overs of play.

Speaking to the Bridport News, Park said: “They definitely packed their side full of quality players.

“Their bowling attack was the best I’ve faced in 15 years, it was relentless with sustained pace, movement and accuracy.

“I was thrilled really to have made as many runs as we did. Me and Ben knuckled down and if we hadn’t have tried to attack (Weld) I don’t think we’d have made many runs.

“They’re a Premier side, they’d tear apart a Premier attack with Weld, Souch and Willoughby.

“Even if we’d have taken four or five wickets, I’m pretty sure they bat down to nine or ten. Realistically, (216) was never going to be enough.

“Even if we’d have scored 300 we probably would’ve chased it down. There’s no shame in losing to them.”

Beaminster now tackle Wimborne Seconds away on Saturday (1pm), the seventh-placed Minstermen lying one place above Park’s side in the standings.

Park said: “From what I’ve seen, I think we’re capable of beating them. It’s just at the moment, our bowling has been very inconsistent and not up to scratch.

“That’s something we’re going to have to put right, but unfortunately we’ve lost Nick Hollely for up to a month as his knees have packed up.

“We’re going to be struggling with our attack so we’ve got to find ways of taking ten wickets in a game. I’ll have to do a Ben Stokes with some weird fields!”

Hollely and Henry Hansford-Harvey drop out for the returning James Edmunds and Jack Ronan.

Beaminster: Runyard, W Moss, Golledge, Park, A Moss, Baker, Jones, Fry, Bareham, Edmunds, Ronan.