BRANKSOME 168-9 (17pts) beat BRIDPORT 160-7 (11pts) by 8 runs

SKIPPER Chris Backhouse cited a key incident as the turning point in Bridport's defeat at Branksome in Dorset Funeral Plan Division Two.

The home side, who had won the toss and batted after a delayed start on a murky afternoon, were struggling with half their side dismissed when Neil Bridle appeared to have been bowled.

However, with keeper Fred Everitt standing close to the stumps neither umpire could determine whether the ball or Everitt dislodged the bails, and the reprieved Bridle proceeded to smash a quickfire 56 and help catapult the total to 168.

Bridport chased valiantly but were always behind the asking rate and Backhouse felt his side had been unfairly treated.

He said: "That incident was the turning point because his innings gave Branksome a score that was about 40 more than we wanted to chase.

"He was only on three at the time and as far as we could see he had been clean bowled, but for whatever reason the umpires didn't give it out.

"I'm disappointed because we would have been a lot more confident chasing 120; it was difficult enough given the conditions."

Ashley Nicholls (3-48) provided the visitors with a tremendous start by claiming both openers, and Bridport were controlling the game when they reduced Branksome to 72-5.

But Bridle's apparent fortune and subsequent innings changed the complexion of the match and despite falling victim to Backhouse, who recorded a match analysis of 3-45, Branksome had compiled an above-par total.

In reply, the visitors struggled to combat accurate early bowling and were sedately scoring at less than two runs per over for the first half of their innings.

Opener Matt Sherring played well for his 34 and Everitt (22) delivered a couple of handsome pulls to inject some impetus, but both fell with much work left to do.

Captain Backhouse bludgeoned a swashbuckling 35 to reduce the target, but when he was clean bowled by Adam Butt (3-55), hope of an unlikely victory evaporated.

"The pitch was slow and the bounce uneven and we couldn't see the ball for most of our innings," added Backhouse, who was deprived of Sam Challis, Wes Lewis, Dave Herbert and Henry Bloxham's services.

"I'm pleased to take 11 points out of the game but gutted that we got so close but couldn't get over the line."

WALLISDOWN REC SCOREBOARD

BRANKSOME

Huntley b Nicholls 7

Tubbs c Smith b Nicholls 3

Chowdhury c Smith b A Sherring 27

Hardy c Good b Backhouse 23

Butt b A Sherring 0

Tubbs c Backhouse b Fitzgerald 13

Bridle b Backhouse 56

Spencer b Nicholls 1

Daly b Backhouse 14

Rashu not out 12

Naveed not out 4

Extras 8

Total (9 wkts, 42 overs) 168

FoW: 1-13, 2-19, 3-58, 4-58, 5-72, 6-102, 7-108, 8-150, 9-159

Bowling: Nicholls 12-1-48-3, A Sherring 12-4-37-2, Backhouse 11-2-43-3, Fitzgerald 6-0-33-1, Good 1-0-6-0

BRIDPORT

M Sherring b Hardy 34

Fitzgerald c Bridle b Naveed 7

Good c Butt b Daly 10

Everitt b Hardy 22

Nicholls c Raghu b Butt 19

Backhouse b Butt 35

Smith not out 14

Tozer b Butt 5

A Sherring not out 3

Extras 20

Total (7 wkts, 42 overs) 160

FoW: 1-22, 2-33, 3-69, 4-78, 5-106, 6-140, 7-152 Bowling: Daly 12-3-31-1, Naveed 8-3-18-1, Raghu 5-0-21-0, Hardy 9-1-30-2, Butt 8-0-55-3

Man of the match (sponsored by Nantes Solicitors): Chris Backhouse