Wessex Internet Dorset Cricket League - week four previews

Dorchester have won three out of the last four Dorset titles but finished third last season and were beaten by Bere on the final day of the campaign.

Dorchester are so far unbeaten in 2023 but Bere bounced back from a first-round defeat to Broadstone by defeating Christchurch last weekend.

Bere’s side contains many ex-Dorchester players and the two teams regularly play against each other on the Dorchester Evening League circuit.

READ MORE: Bere Regis beat Christchurch by 100 runs

Going into the derby, Keegan told Echosport: “We know they’ve strengthened but we had a good result last week against Christchurch.

“We need to keep raising our performance levels and meet the challenge of Dorchester.

“Last season it swung both ways, they beat us by five wickets at their place and we turned them over at ours.

“Ultimately, they deserve respect but we need to play to our own strengths, go in with our gameplan and see where that takes us.”

Opposing skipper Jon Legg highlighted Bere’s spin attack as cause for concern.

He said: “We’ve started the season very well, had two strong performances and been very disciplined across all aspects of the game.

“We’ve laid our foundation for the season, we just need to build off it.

“We know Bere very well, some of us having played a lot of Evening League with and against them. We know they’re a team full of good cricketers.

“Ultimately, we have to perform well against their spin threat and not allow them to build partnerships when batting.”

Bere welcome back Rich Cole and Pete Russell in the absence of Cleay Perham and David Griffiths.

Dorchester make one change as Tom Joslin is replaced by former captain James Dunham.

In County Division Three, the teams’ second strings face each other at Dorch Rec, while Dorchester Thirds host Swanage Thirds at St Osmund’s in Division Six.

Bere: Russell, Rich Cole, Rogerson, S Goodhew, Talbot, Robertson, T Goodhew, Murphy, Payne, Keegan, Walbridge.

Dorchester: Legg, Jones, Ryall, Mitchem, Barrett, Belt, Rajendar, Nobbs, Subramanian, Narasimhan, Dunham.

Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.

Bere match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation.

Elsewhere in the Premier, Martinstown are still seeking their first win after heavy defeats by champions Poole and Dorchester.

Charlie Durant refused to lose heart after a testing start, staying upbeat ahead of hosting Wimborne.

“It’s not been the easiest but we won’t get disheartened by it,” he said.

“If we are no wins out of five, we can go again. We’ve got three months of the season to turn it around.

“Wimborne are a very good side and handed us two absolute thrashings last year.

“All across the board I want a better performance from the boys. Everyone knows what I expect of them.”

Charlie Andrews misses out, with Matt Rimmer coming in and Steve Gerety (back) a doubt.

Martinstown's Steve Gerety, right, is a doubt with a back injury (Image: GRAHAM HUNT)

County Division Four leaders Martinstown Seconds visit Broadstone Thirds.

Martinstown (from): S Gerety, S Williams, Nichols, Lewis, F Williams, Kane, Hill, R Gerety, Coombs, Durant, Trotter, Rimmer.

In Division One, Portland Red Triangle are still targeting their second win of the season after defeat to Wimborne Seconds last week.

Matt Randell’s men make one of the longest journeys in the county when travelling to Chalke Valley, a side rapidly rising through the divisions.

Chalke also beat Triangle in the T20 Cup last season but Randell is unsure what to make of the Bowerchalke side after their two cancellations and a victory this season.

He said: “It’s hard to tell, they’ve had two rained off. They’ll be reasonable, I’d have thought.

“It always feels like there’s a lot of hype around Chalke Valley, like someone’s seeing something I’m maybe not.

“They’ll be competitive, that’s the same for anyone in this league.

“It’s the highest division they’ve been in so it will be interesting to test them out against some quicker bowlers than what they’ve faced in other leagues and see if we can prise a few wickets out that way.

“We’ll look to put them under pressure. In some of the results from previous games it doesn’t appear they’ve been put under much pressure.”

Portland are without Rob Edwards, who has moved to Division Three side Shillingstone, Simon Proffitt and Dave Clifford but Rich Samuel, Ryan Price and Jon Cameron return.

Portland’s second team host Weymouth Seconds in a Division Five derby at Reforne tomorrow.

Triangle: Laws, M Barrett, J Adkins, Randell, Price, Samuel, Cameron, Russell, Moles, Potts, J Marsh.

Meanwhile, Puddletown are still awaiting their first win after relegation to Division One.

Ryan Norman leads Puddle against former side Swanage at Plush tomorrow and the skipper is relishing the reunion.

He said: “It will be good to see some of the boys again, I’m still in contact with them so it will be an enjoyable game. There’s no ill feeling with moving on.

“Tom and Craig Wells both got runs for them last week so it will be a hard game but hopefully we can hit our straps this week, that’s the intention anyway!

“The middle order needs to perform, I think it’s a bit of application and trying to bat through it. Give yourself a chance to get in.”

Puddletown Seconds visit Cattistock & Symene Thirds in Division Five tomorrow.

Puddletown: Ry Norman, Re Norman, Barrett, Weir, D Morris, Snow, J Morris, S Chaldecott, Clarke, Eccleson, AN Other.

Rob Snow returns as Puddletown face Swanage (Image: PUDDLETOWN CC)

Weymouth are another side chasing their first win as they host Marnhull at Redlands in Division Two tomorrow.

An under-strength Seasiders lost to promoted side Sherborne Seconds last week and returning skipper Lloyd Beals signalled his frustration at the result.

“Last week’s performance and result has added enormous pressure to get something out of this game. We won’t win many games off the back of that,” he warned.

Weymouth: England, Beals, Walton, Wills, J Sapsworth, Nott, Tarry, Whyte, Tonkin, Baker, Urumancheri.

Matchday sponsor: Active Mobility

Player sponsor: Advoco Accountants

Ground renovation sponsor: GRBS