ANTICIPATION is building ahead of Dorchester’s derby with Bere Regis at Dorchester Rec tomorrow (12.30pm).
Dorchester have won both of their 100-over games to replace Bere at the top of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League standings.
Meanwhile, Bere are without a victory in the long format and have dropped to third behind champions Wimborne.
The two neighbours also shared one nine-wicket win apiece in the T20 format after their 50-over match fell victim to the weather.
READ MORE: Portland Red Triangle lose to Marnhull by five wickets
And Dorchy skipper Gautham Rajendar believes that cancellation makes for an intriguing contest.
He told Echosport: “We’ve only played Bere in the T20s this season which makes this Saturday all the more interesting.
“We’ve had close games in the past and we should expect more of the same, I’d say it makes it more exciting.”
Opposing skipper Brian Keegan downplayed the magnitude of the game, despite falling 4.5 average points behind Dorchester in the table.
Asked if he felt the game was a must-win, he said: “I don’t think so. We’re only just over halfway through the season and a lot can happen.
“I’m not stressing too much importance on one result. We only look one match ahead.
“Ultimately, we’ve got Dorchester in front of us and league position when you go out on to the pitch doesn’t count for anything.”
Dorchester’s Jim Ryall returns for Scott Peach, while Bere welcome back Rich Payne and Rob Murphy for Sean Walbridge and Harry Green.
Dorchester Seconds visit Royal Challengers Sports in County Division Two, while Dorchester Thirds travel to Sturminster & Hinton Seconds in Six West and Dorchester Fourths host Chalke Valley Lions in Six East.
Bere Regis Seconds host Sturminster & Hinton in Division Two (all 1pm tomorrow).
Dorchester: Barrett, Belt, Hill, Jones, Mitchem, Maltby, Nobbs, Owens, Rajendar, Ryall, Stewart.
Bere: Robertson, White, Munnings, S Goodhew, Kennard, J Keegan, Talbot, Murphy, Payne, B Keegan, Rogerson.
Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.
Bere first XI match ball sponsor: GMS Plumbing and Heating.
Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Chat-Com.
Martinstown, meanwhile, face a massive top-of-the-table game at Premier Two leaders Chalke Valley (12.30pm).
Town’s loss to Christchurch was fully capitalised on by Joe Weld’s side, who lead the standings by 1.43 average points going into the match.
However, Martinstown arrive in confident mood, having already beaten Chalke in the 50-over format this season.
Skipper Charlie Durant said: “It’s probably our biggest game of the season in terms of the test of opposition and importance of the game.
“We fell behind losing against Christchurch, so Saturday is a really big opportunity to get back to the top of the league and where we want to be.
“We’ll go there to win, I don’t think there’s any benefit in going for the draw. Even if there’s a big total or we’re wickets down, I’ll always go for the win. I think that’s how cricket should be played.”
Martinstown Seconds host Poole Town Fourths in Division Four tomorrow (1pm).
Martinstown: Nichols, S Williams, R Gerety, F Williams, Kepple, Slocombe, Laidlow, Harris, Durant, Trotter, Samways.
Main sponsor: The Brewers Arms.
Having lost their own table-top battle at Corfe Mullen last week, Weymouth are on the recovery trail at home to Wimborne Seconds tomorrow (1pm).
Lloyd Beals’ men currently sit fifth in the table, with the Minstermen in sixth.
Beals addressed both the loss at Corfe and post-match celebrations by Wimborne in the reverse fixture, in which the hosts hot 95 for the seventh wicket to chase their 222 target.
He said: “Although the (Corfe) scoreline suggests a difficult day, we were handicapped by conditions and kind of rolled over and let them rub our tummies because of it.”
Beals added: “I’ve never seen someone so excited to win as their captain, he’s a real superstar!”
Weymouth Seconds visit Christchurch Seconds in Division Four tomorrow (1pm).
Weymouth: Haylock, Mitchell, Walton, Lawes, England, Gregory, Beals, P Sapsworth, J Sapsworth, Urumancheri, Hoyes.
Also in Division One, Portland Red Triangle are scrapping away in eighth but can put clear daylight between themselves and bottom side Beaminster with a win this weekend.
One of Triangle’s two victories this season came against Beaminster and Matt Randell’s men could therefore do the double at Reforne tomorrow (1pm).
Joe Adkins, stand-in skipper from last week’s five-wicket loss to Marnhull, feels Triangle can do just that.
He said: “We’ve got two quite big games coming up, them and then Compton.
“We know amongst the group that it’s a big game that we need to get a result from.
“We’ve played against them a few times but you never really know what you’re going to get. They’ve got the potential to be a really good side.
“They’ve been in the same boat as us where selection’s been a problem and results aren’t going their way.”
Portland welcome back a host of key players this weekend, while their seconds visit Wareham in Division Five tomorrow (1pm).
Triangle: M Kazimi, M Barrett, Laws, Randell, D Adkins, Proffitt, Munro, J Adkins, I Kazimi, J Marsh, Potts.
Main sponsor: A2Z Landscaping.
Puddletown, meanwhile, host Shaftesbury in Division Two as they look to elevate themselves from the bottom two, while their second teams meet at Shaftesbury in Division Five tomorrow (both 1pm).
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