Dorchester 183-5 lost to

BROADSTONE 184-6 by four wickets

OPENER Ian Sibley's best innings of the season was wasted by Dorchester when they scored only 51 off their last 15 overs.

Their total of 183 gave a depleted attack little margin for error and Broadstone's Jonathan Powell, who used to make a habit of scoring runs in the Dorchester Evening League, steered his side towards a 45th over victory with a stylish 59.

The county town club had 17 players unavailable for one reason or another and when Justin Miller cried off because of work they were forced to drag school headmaster Lyn Stockham away from his Saturday morning shopping trip at 11.30am to make up the numbers.

The veteran Dorchester squash champion wasn't required to bat or bowl, but he did take a nifty catch to get rid of Broadstone opener Fry.

"We were really up against it with so many players unavailable and we were very grateful to Lyn for stepping into the breach," said Dorchester skipper Tony Foot.

The best news for Foot and his side was that the result didn't really matter after Hamworthy Rec's defeat meant they are certain to fill the relegation spot.

"It they had won with maximum points we would have had to go to Hamworthy next Saturday needing to win to stay in the Premier Division and that would have been a bit tricky," said Foot.

Sibley and Rob Waite gave the home side a bright start with an 81-run partnership before Waite was caught behind for 36 chasing a wide delivery from Powell in the 20th over.

Sibley and Dave Chubb kept the scoreboard ticking over and at 110-1 after 30 overs Dorchester should have gone on to build a winning total even though a shower of rain temporarily slowed the outfield.

But consistent Broadstone bowling pegged them back and attempts to break the shackles saw the downfall of Chubb, quickly followed by Sibley for a fine 61.

Dan Thorne smashed one six in his first innings of the season before becoming one of Farrant's three victims and then Simon Joslin's bid to accelerate the scoring rate ended with a stumping.

Foot, who was unbeaten but took 52 balls to make 22, admitted: "We didn't score enough, but credit to Broadstone who bowled pretty well."

Waite's aggressive first spell brought him wickets in his sixth and seventh overs, and Pete Tucker kept the lid on with only 24 coming off his ten overs.

But they couldn't get rid of the Powell threat. He put up his half century off 62 balls and by the time Mark Derrien had him snapped up by

Joslin in the 40th over, Broadstone needed only 18 runs off ten overs with five wickets left.