STALBRIDGE SECONDS 175-9 (20pts) beat BRIDPORT 158 (11pts) by 17 runs

MARK Smith refused to be downhearted after Bridport tasted their maiden Dorset League Division Three defeat of the season.

Skipper Smith, in his first campaign at the helm, watched his charges succumb to a narrow 17-run reversal against Stalbridge Seconds at Brewery Field.

The visitors elected to bat first upon winning the toss and totalled 175-9 from their allotted 45 overs, with opener Rob Knight top-scoring with 46.

Early wickets tumbled in reply and despite a cavalier 41 from hard-hitting all-rounder Ashley Nich-olls, the home side were bowled out 18 runs short of their target.

Smith was disappointed with the amount of extras his troops had conceded but heartened by their never-say-die attitude.

He said: “Extras didn’t help us but the pitch was so inconsistent and Mark Tozer had a torrid time behind the stumps, with the ball scooting through.

“At one stage Stalbridge looked as if they were going to get a huge score on the board and our heads dropped, but we took wickets at the right times and pegged them back.

“We batted sensibly and there was no reason why we couldn’t have reached the target, but we lost too many wickets.

“Once Ashley got out the main priority was to get to 158 for the extra bonus point, which we did. Getting 11 points in a loss is pleasing.”

A projected score of 200-plus looked on the cards for Stalbridge as Knight and Alex Sullivan (25) added 66 for the second wicket, on a pitch producing unpredictable bounce.

However, Good’s (4-22) introduction changed the complexion of the match as he ripped through the middle order, reducing the visitors to 117-6.

Liam Toohill (2-17) bowled tidily while Dom Gape’s miserly 3-24 from 12 overs pressurised Stal-bridge, whose scramble to a competitive score was aided by no fewer than 40 extras.

Bridport required a steady start with the bat but were floundering on 9-2 once Toohill had departed for a duck and Good for three, both to Ian Walker (4-28).

Luke King (26), Mark Tozer (33) and Gape (20) all set about rebuilding the innings but at 117-6 it appeared they would fall way short of their target.

Nicholls put on 39 with Wes Lewis (16) for the seventh wicket in a knock that combined imagination and powerful striking, only for the innings to fold once he had perished.