BEAMINSTER 139 (4pts) lost to MARNHULL 140-4 (25pts) by six wickets

BEAMINSTER succumbed to their second successive Dorset Funeral Plan Division One defeat with a disappointing six-wicket reverse to Marnhull.

Playing their first competitive match at the Memorial Ground this summer, the hosts were bowled out four overs shy of the allotted 50 having mustered only 139, before Marnhull confidently knocked off the runs with ample time to spare.

Skipper Richard Bugler, who has stepped down from captaining duties due to increased work commitments that will limit his playing opportunities, blamed his side's lacklustre batting for the loss, which collectively failed for the second week running.

He said: "Our bowling and fielding was good, it's just our batting that let us down again.

"The match was closer than last week and it's a shame that we lost but nice to see that we have improved."

Bugler won the toss and opted to bat, but did not expect the visitors' opening bowler Simon Sweatman to rip through the top order with a devastating spell of 3-34 from ten overs.

Sweatman dismissed three of the hosts' top four, including Simon Jones (11) and Joe Hawkins (6), which left Beaminster tottering at 58-4.

Richard Runyard notched a useful 26 but was bowled by Les Elsworth (2-28) and only a stubborn 30 from Bugler gave the scorecard some semblance of respectability as the last six wickets fell for 59 runs.

Beaminster's total never seemed defendable, but Jones (2-29) bowled like his England namesake at the start of Marnhull's innings and claimed two quick wickets.

He dismissed Mike Brown and Josh Mackay while the score remained rooted on 28 as Beaminster sensed a slim hope of causing a mighty upset, which sent some jitters into the visitors' camp.

However, a 47-run partnership steadied Marnhull and despite Adam Herring - playing his first home match for Beaminster - impressing again with the wicket of opener Ed Lewis for 17, keeper Horne crashed a belligerent unbeaten 41 to steer his side over the line.

Ross Baker will take over the captaincy reigns for the remainder of the season, starting with Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.

MEMORIAL GROUND SCOREBOARD

BEAMINSTER

Runyard b Elsworth 26

Park c Dave b Sweatman 1

Jones c Elsworth b Sweatman 11

Hawkins c Brown b Sweatman 6

Hurford b Elsworth 11

Bugler st Horne b Mackay 30

Parry c Binnington b Humphries 0

Baker c Horne b Brown 2

Herring lbw Dawe 8

Legg lbw Dawe 2

Guilor not out 0

Extras 42

Total (all out, 46.1 overs) 139

FoW: 1-6, 2-28, 3-39, 4-58, 5-80, 6-85, 7-94, 8-137, 9-139

Bowling: Ralph 10-4-17-0, Sweatman 10-2-34-3, Elsworth 7-1-28-2, Humphries 10-3-23-1, Brown 2-0-21-1, Dawe 4.1-2-2-2, Mackay 3-1-10-1

MARNHULL

Lewis c Park b Herring 17

Brown b Jones 11

Mackay b Jones 0

Green b Baker 32

Humphries not out 21

Horne not out 41

Extras 18

Total (4 wkts, 32.3 overs) 140

FoW: 1-28, 2-28, 3-75

Bowling: Jones 8.3-2-29-2, Legg 5-3-17-0, Herring 7-2-20-1, Baker 8-0-21-1, Hawkins 1-0-21-0, Guilor 3-0-19-0