Bere Regis beat Martinstown by 80 runs

BERE Regis took a comfortable 80-run victory over Martinstown – but only after their hosts suffered a massive batting collapse at Lower Ashton Farm.

Set 268 to win, Town were cruising to victory at 138-0 in the 20th over until the first wicket sparked a huge slide to 187 all out just 16 overs later.

With needle between the sides a feature of recent games, this latest encounter was played out in much friendlier circumstances.

Bere won the toss and elected to bat but lost Pete Russell (10) to a Gordon Wint run out and Sam Goodhew (10) then edged Fraser Hill (1-62) behind to Ed Nichols.

READ MORE: Wimborne & Colehill beat Bere Regis on opening day

Matt King had built steadily to 22 before falling victim to home skipper Sam Kershaw (3-47) to leave Bere on 93-3.

However, it was now that Bere began to press hard on the gas, with Cameron Robertson (54) reaching a typically quick half-century featuring eight fours.

After he departed to Kershaw, Tim Goodhew (45) was run out by Hill having struck five boundaries and two sixes, before Kershaw trapped Rob Murphy (20) lbw.

And, when Charlie Durant (1-48) bowled Rich Cole (0), Bere’s progress was checked at 181-7.

Bere’s tail wagged furiously as Rich Payne (34no) and Jacob Kennard (47no) did severe damage late on, Teddy Andrews conceding 35 from two overs.

The duo hit nine fours and three sixes between them in a destructive stand of 86 for the eighth wicket as Bere closed on 267-7.

Faced with a big total, Martinstown’s powerful batting unit went off like a bullet.

Nichols and Sean Williams put on 99 in the first 11 overs until they were checked by the guile of spinners Sean Walbridge and Sam Goodhew.

Nichols hit 73, of which 60 came in fours, before he offered a return catch to Goodhew to leave Town on 138-1.

From there, the dye was cast as Martinstown quickly fell to 151-5 with the loss of Williams (51), Will Maltby (9), Tom Pope (0) and Wint (2).

Big-hitting Andrews (6) and Kershaw (7) then fell in consecutive overs as Goodhew (5-45) completed his fifer, putting Bere firmly in control.

And the visitors finished the demolition job as Kennard switched from pace to off-spin to take 2-36 and Russell (1-1) pouched a catch off Dave Trotter (2) to ensure Martinstown lost all ten wickets for 49 runs.

Bere captain Brian Keegan told Echosport: “We batted really well, all the way down. Particular credit goes to Cam, Tim and what turned the screw even more was Rich and Jacob.

“That gave us the impetus. Then, if you look at their reply, they were absolutely flying.

“They batted well but there was indifferent bowling. Then Sam ended up with 4-45, bowling spin basically got us over the line.

“They collapsed. When we got the openers, it opened the door for us and when we went off at the second drinks break at 34 overs they were 185-9. It was a complete turnaround, a weird game.”

Opposing skipper Kershaw reflected on a missed opportunity.

He said: “Long story short, we’ve lost that game for ourselves. We absolutely folded, which is disappointing.

“Ed and Sean, you can’t ask for anything more from your opening batsmen to be 130 for none in 20 overs.

“The score was comfortably chaseable, then we lost a couple of quick wickets and never recovered. We’ve only got ourselves to blame. We owe an apology to Ed and Sean.

“Most of us gave our wickets away. It was one of those funny days.”

In County Division Three, Bere Regis Seconds lost by 65 runs to Abbotsbury, while Martinstown Seconds were awarded 20 points after Hamworthy Seconds scratched.