MARTINSTOWN 167 (6pts) lost to BROADSTONE 302-6 (20pts) by 135 runs

MARTINSTOWN were sent to a heavy 135-run loss as Broadstone sealed a memorable victory in the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League.

The match will arguably be remembered for Charlie Groves’ scintillating 113 not out from 62 balls, despite batting at six.

Martinstown skipper Charlie Durant had taken 4-31 from ten overs to reduce Broadstone to 108-4 but Groves went off like a missile to change the course of the game.

Until then, Matty Whittle (46) had been the mainstay of the innings until he fell to the part-time bowling of Ed Nichols (2-47).

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Groves succeeded him in stupendous fashion, blasting nine fours and a stunning seven maximums to score his first Saturday League century for Broadstone.

Martinstown were simply unable to stem the tide of runs as Niral Kerai (29) and Williams Lemans (29no) pushed Broadstone to a magical 302-6.

Owen Parkin (2-32) took two quick wickets to hamper the Town reply before Nichols (25) and Will Maltby (43) rebuilt.

Kerai (4-47) fought back with two wickets in two balls, dismissing Nichols and then Steve Gerety.

However, once Maltby perished to Peter Thompson (3-52), the hosts were majorly on the back foot at 102-5.

Fin Williams struck a brilliant unbeaten 44 from 55 balls in vain as Kerai and Thompson worked their way through the rest of the order, finally bowling Martinstown out for 167.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “It’s a disappointing result, we were pretty poor in the field and dropped a fair few catches.

“Batting, we got unlucky with a few decisions and then just fell away towards the end. But, we got a decent amount of points and it’s all to play for.”

Martinstown still have a chance of fifth but must beat Cattistock & Symene while hoping Broadstone and Blandford slip up against Christchurch and Wimborne respectively.

Martinstown Seconds beat Cheselbourne by eight wickets in County Division Four to secure their place for 2024.