MARTINSTOWN II 207-8 (20pts) beat CHARLTON DOWN 120 (6pts) by 87 runs

CHARLTON Down perished to a strengthened Martinstown Seconds by 87 runs at Lower Ashton Farm in County Division Three.

Town fielded first-team skipper Sam Kershaw, plus vice-captain Will Maltby, who scored 96 not out when filling in for the unavailable Kershaw against Wimborne in the Premier League two rounds ago.

After Charlton Down won the toss and fielded first, good batting from Maltby (38), Kershaw (25) Jamie Stewart (43) and a lovely innings of 25 from Ryan Blair helped Town accumulate a solid score.

Despite ringing the changes, Martinstown were reduced to 107-5 as the Charlton Down bowlers showed their quality, Dan Stevens (2-16) the pick of the bowlers from his eight overs.

It was left to Maltby and Kershaw to rescue the innings and a quick innings from Stewart boosted the hosts to 207-8.

Charlton Down’s batsmen struggled early doors with the pace and bounce of Stewart (3-19) reducing them to 32-4.

Nick Voss and Matt Stevens batted well adding a 50-run partnership and at 82-4 after 20 overs the run chase was on, needing six an over in the last 20 overs.

When Stevens (49) fell agonisingly short of a half-century to Jenson Stewart (3-31), Charlton Down’s resistance was broken.

Teddy Andrews (2-16) struck twice removing Nick Voss (5) and Jonathon Kay (0) and wickets fell regularly as the run chase faltered, Jenson Stewart cleaning up the tail to give Martinstown the well-deserved victory.