Dorchester III 255-8 bt Parley III 195 all out by 60 runs DORCHESTER started their Dorset League Division Seven campaign with a 60-run victory.

Electing to bat after winning the toss county town vice-captain Jae Miller got the innings off to a flier hitting six fours in the first few overs.

A total of 91 runs came from the first 13 overs before Miller was bowled for a rapid 61 by impressive Parley opening bowler Alex Cridland who claimed 4-41 from 10 overs.

Jamie Quinten and debutant Mat King took the score past the 100 mark before Quinten was caught leg before for five by House.

However, King showed few nerves on his Dorchester debut and reached his 50 with a lovely straight four off Robinson.

King was Dorchester’s third wicket to fall with the score on 169 when House bowled him for 62 including 10 fours.

Tom Cottrell followed King back to the pavilion when Barber bowled him for 11 with the score on 180.

An important partnership of 34 between George Chubb and Cameran Lucas saw the Dorchester score past the 200 mark with 10 overs remaining.

As the push for runs stepped up the return of Cridland saw the end of Lucas, Cole and Legg. Chubb batted intelligently and held together the Dorchester middle order before being run out for 27.

The Dorchester innings looked to be petering out but Pering and Mitchem had other ideas and smashed 27 runs off the last three overs which included Rob Pering hitting Dorchester’s first six of the season and his first six for many years.

The Parley innings started badly with both openers back in the pavilion with the score on 21, Roe was run out by Pering and Govan was trapped leg before by Mat King.

With the score on 55 Chubb bowled Harris for 16.

The back bone of the Parley innings came from Hancock and Robinson who put together a partnership of 55 which looked to set them up for a run chase as the innings progressed but another fine throw from King saw Robinson run out for 23 with the score on 110.

Ian Legg claimed the prize scalp of Hancock who was eventually bowled for 77 and finished with 3-44. Lloyd Mitchem returned to clean up the Parley late order batsmen and claim 3-52 and leave the visitors 60 runs short of victory.

Captain Pete Tucker said: “It is great to start with a win especially when you start in a higher league.

“Four of the younger players from last year, James Dunham, Joe Power, Nick Roe and Hugh Pryce, were selected for either the first or second team so this has given the opportunity for other youngsters to step up and produce some good performances.

“I will be including other young under-15 budding stars during the season to give them a taste of the longer game and to continue the conveyor belt of young cricketers into weekend cricket.”