DORCHESTER 276-5 (20pts) beat STALBRIDGE 203 (7pts) by five wickets

DORCHESTER skipper Martyn Richards admitted to feeling relieved after his side finally kick-started their season with a fabulous five-wicket victory over Stalbridge at the Rec on Saturday.

The reigning Dorset League Premier Division champions entered the clash reeling from three successive defeats but like a wounded animal they lashed out at Stalbridge and displayed the type of superiority that epitomised their glittering performances in 2008.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Dave Maslen and Steve Gerety put on an opening partnership of 82 and even when they fell in quick succession, Lee Haynes (82) stepped up to the plate with a remarkable knock to lead the hosts to an insurmountable total.

Dan Belt (28), Paul Tweddle (37) and some big hits from Adam Rendell (9 not out) and Richards (10 not out) eventually saw Dorchester end their innings on 276-5, a score that was further boosted by 47 extras.

Stalbridge were clearly rattled and they soon found themselves on 12-3 in reply as Rob Waite (2-39) produced a devastating opening spell.

However, the county town outfit then became a little complacent and Stuart Mills (72) and Rob Burfitt (74) took full advantage by forging a magnificent fourth-wicket stand of 131 to get the visitors back into the game.

Dorchester were now in desperate need of inspiration and after Gerety forced Mills to find the hands of Belt, Phil Morley came up with a flash of brilliance to claim the wicket of Burfitt with an incredible caught and bowled.

That shifted the momentum back to the hosts as Stalbridge went from 143-3 to 146-5, a position they never recovered from despite the efforts of Chris Hedges (24) later in the innings.

Richards said: “At the end there was a feeling of delight and relief throughout the team and the changing room was certainly a much happier place afterwards.

“It was good to win the toss and have a bat, and to get off to such a good start relaxed everyone and gave us confidence.

“Steve Forshaw bowled as well as I have ever seen him bowl but Dave Maslen and Steve Gerety both batted superbly.

“Then, when they fell in quick succession, Lee Haynes came in and was the rock of the innings with a superb 82. He was in imperious form and with Dan Belt and Paul Tweddle adding runs alongside him we went on to reach 276, which we would be confident of defending against anyone.

“We continued with the same attitude at the start of their reply and soon had them on 12-3.

“It was great to have Rob Waite back and he bowled superbly but unfortunately I think the boys started to think it was going to be a bit of a carnival.

“That little bit of complacency enabled Rob Burfitt and Stuart Mills to both get scores in the 70s and get Stalbridge into a winning position.

“At that point we could not see where a wicket was going to come from but Steve Gerety then came on and done what he always tends to do and picked up a big breakthrough by claiming the wicket of Stuart Mills.

“Then Phil Morley took a fantastic diving caught and bowled to get rid of Rob Burfitt and that proved to be the turning point.

“Dave Herbert then came back on, and after a shaky first spell, put on a great second spell to finish with figures of 4-47 to mop up the tail and help us claim maximum points.”

The victory lifts the county town outfit off the bottom of the table and Richards is confident his men will now kick on.

He added: “We know we have the players, the talent and the team spirit to go on a run, and hopefully we will show that over the next couple of weeks by getting back in contention.”