Beaminster on a high

BEAMINSTER 174-5 beat SUTTONERS 173-8, by 5 wkts

SUTTONERS were Beaminster's latest Dorset Division One victims as the West Dorset side kept up their end-of-season surge.

A fourth successive victory lifted the West Dorset side above their Bournemouth-based opponents.

The visitors won the toss and surprised Beaminster captain Ian Hutchings by electing to bat.

"I would have put them in anyway," he said, "it was a wet wicket that was drying out so if the ball was going to anything it would do it early on."

Hutchings proved himself right with 2-49 off 12 overs, while opener Matt Hansford, 3-30, and in-form Fred Etherington 3-31 bowled brilliantly.

Most of the Suttoners batsmen got into double figures but none of them went on to post a high score with the exception of Dave Barber (47 not out), batting at eight.

Beaminster were mightily relieved to remove Chris Insall, scorer of 228 runs the last time the two sides met in June at Dean Park. On 25, he was caught out by Hansford looking for a big hit.

"We just kept picking up wickets which kept the run rate down. "I thought it was probably one of our better bowling and fielding displays - it was a good team effort again.

"It's good that people are performing with the ball. Matt swings it and gets movement off the seam. Fred is very deceptive, he bowls off about three paces and he's having a good season."

In reply, Beaminster's top four made decent contributions to ease towards the total.

Richard Bugler top scored with 56, which included a six and six fours, while Simon Jones made 46 not out.

Vice-captain Jones was dropped three times, but he went on to play arguably his best innings of the season.

He hit 12 runs off the penultimate over and the winning run came off a leg bye.

Hutchings added: "We lost a few wickets in a little spell. I think people's minds tend to wander when you get that close.

"I was pleased to see Simon Jones get runs. He looked good and although he was dropped he made the most of his luck.

"We got off to a flyer which put the pressure on them. They had a bad day in the field and I think they came here thinking they would walk all over us after what happened at Dean Park."