Dorchester beat Martinstown by eight wickets

LOCAL bragging rights remain with Dorchester after a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Martinstown in their Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League clash at Dorchester Rec.

Jon Legg’s side have now won each of their past three matches against Town, none more convincingly than this.

The win means Dorchester (45) top the standings by a single point from Broadstone and Poole, both on 44 points.

Opposing skipper Charlie Durant won the toss and chose to bat, Martinstown making good progress until Dorchester overseas star Harry Jones (1-30) bowled Sean Williams (18).

However, the introduction of new signing Sathiya Narasimhan firmly swung the game in Dorchester’s favour.

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He removed the well-set Henry Lewis (22), plus Fin Williams (0) and Jack Kane (6) to end up with excellent figures of 3-16 from ten overs.

And Legg himself then picked up the baton by bowling fellow ex-Dorset star Ed Nichols for a composed 39, before proceeding to dismiss almost the entire lower order.

Left-arm spinner Legg (5-45) was made to pay slightly for his wickets as Fraser Hill (29), Jacob Coombs (10) and Durant (13) all got starts before succumbing to the Dorchester captain.

And returning India Over-50s left-arm spinner Krish Subramanian (1-33) snaffled the wicket of David Trotter to bowl out Martinstown for 169.

Durant was first to strike in Dorchester’s chase, trapping Jim Ryall (12) leg before after the hosts had seen off the seam of Coombs and Hill.

Narasimhan (40) and Jamie Barrett (77no) then batted beautifully together to completely take the game away from Martinstown.

Both scored at around a run per ball, Narasimhan (40) expertly rotating the strike and only hitting one four, while Barrett found the boundary with regularity.

He cruised to his half-century and, even after Jack Kane (1-37) had Narasimhan caught by Hill, Barrett did not relent.

The all-rounder struck 12 fours in his 76-ball knock and built another reliable partnership in Simon Mitchem (24no) as the duo solidly closed out a maximum-point win.

Speaking to Echosport, Legg said: “I’d say it was pretty comprehensive. Nichols and Lewis batted well but once we broke that stand it was a strong performance in all three departments.

“The most impressive thing about the win is how we managed to adapt to conditions. We realised that slow bowling was the way to go on the wicket and our depth allowed us to do that.

“We fielded well as a unit and capitalised on anything loose with the bat.”

And Legg reserved praise for Dorchester’s two star performers.

“Jamie was the standout for me," he added.

"Being pushed up the order and playing an innings like he did was class, he looked at ease throughout.

“Sathiya also performed very well with both bat and ball. He really slowed the run rate up and took crucial wickets. He was also very solid at the top of the order for us.”

Assessing the match from Martinstown’s perspective, Durant had few complaints about the result.

“They were the better side in all three departments,” he admitted.

“I can’t really paint a picture that we should’ve won or deserved anything out of the game, they deserved to win and were full value for it.”

Martinstown have now played two of the top three teams from 2022, losing heavily to champions Poole on the opening day.

Durant confessed he did not see the required improvements from his side following defeat at Poole Park.

He said: “Henry and Ed played really nice and Fraser looked like he was getting going.

“Then, five or six of us played terrible shots and got out, myself included. Me, Jacob, Henry, Fraser can all be disappointed with the shots we played.

“You score 170 at the Rec and five or six batsmen get in. You think you should’ve scored 250, it would’ve been par.

“With the ball, we bowled OK but in the field we’re just really off it at the moment. There’s no intensity, no-one’s on their toes, there’s a one to everyone in the ring.

“It’s far too easy for every single player to score runs. We’ve never been like it before.

“We’ve had a chat and we’re hoping it won’t be like that against Wimborne.”

Dorchester Seconds lost at unbeaten Royal Challengers Sports by four wickets in County Division Three, while Dorchester Thirds were called off at Verwood Thirds in Division Six.

Martinstown Seconds top Division Four after an 11-run win over Marnhull Seconds.