CERNE VALLEY 116 (3pts) lost to DORCHESTER III 260-3 (20pts) by 134 runs

DORCHESTER secured an emphatic 134-run Dorset Funeral Plan Division Seven win over rivals Cerne Valley and remain unbeaten after their opening two games of the season.

The county town side batted first on a slow wicket and the decision to play positively from the first ball certainly paid off as Dorchester’s 50 arrived in only the eighth over and the 100 in the 18th.

The Dorchester total was centred around an excellent partnership of 127 between Jae Miller (108) and 15-year-old Cameran Lucas (67 not out).

Miller carried on his good early season form with a fine century including three sixes and 13 fours. His innings started with a mid-wicket and a lovely cover drive for four before he was eventually run out for 108 by Cerne’s captain Mark Downey.

Lucas was promoted to the number three slot and took full advantage, a nervous but patient start ended with him playing some super straight drives and cutting the ball through point on regular occasions with style.

Tom Cottrell and George Chubb helped to push the score pass the 200 mark before the former was smartly caught by Gallia off Mercer. Lucas remained not out on 67 and Chubb (16) when the innings closed on 260-3.

Special mention should go to Cerne’s opening bowler Rob Baney who delivered with good pace and accuracy.

The Cerne reply started badly when spin bowler Rhy Cole dismissed Green with the score on three.

A partnership of 37 between Gallia and Downey was ended when Pete Tucker caught Gallia for 25 off Chubb at deep mid-off.

The introduction of spin bowler Ian Legg proved decisive as he produced a superb match-winning spell, taking 7-28 off only 8.5 overs.

Legg’s flight and spin bamboozled the Cerne batsmen and they crashed from 59-3 to 116 all out in only 30 overs.

It was pleasing to see debutant Nick Beer, 15, opening the Dorchester bowling attack and delivering five overs for only 11 runs, following in the footsteps of his father Paul who opened the bowling for the first team for many years.

Also, another debutant was 16-year-old Martyn Jones (1-10) who bowled a tidy five-over spell and took his first wicket for the club.

A mix of young and old produced another fine performance for the Thirds with Lucas and Legg stepping up to the mark to help win another game for the county town side.