Martinstown lose to Wimborne by eight wickets

MARTINSTOWN are still searching for their first win of the 2023 Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League season after an eight-wicket defeat to Wimborne.

Charlie Durant’s men have endured a nightmare start to the season, losing heavily to champions Poole, rivals Dorchester and now Wimborne, all of the top three finishers in 2022.

Wimborne won the toss at Lower Ashton Farm and chose to field, making two early breakthroughs as Freddie Williams (2-46) removed Steve Gerety (1) and Sean Williams (11).

Ed Nichols made 29 from 33 balls but was next to perish as Connor Houldsworth (2-40) breached his defences.

READ MORE: Martinstown lose to Dorchester by eight wickets

It was left to Henry Lewis, hitting a superb 78 from 101 deliveries, to prop up the Martinstown innings.

Martinstown’s number four struck nine boundaries and a maximum as wickets tumbled around him, Wimborne’s disciplined attack striking with regularity.

After Nichols departed, only Jack Kane (14) and Jacob Coombs (10no) reached double figures as Martinstown were dismissed for 180.

Ben Bridgen (2-16) was the pick of the away bowlers as all five claimed two wickets apiece.

And the Minstermen then demonstrated their prowess with the willow as they made light work of the 181 target, aided by early dropped catches.

Bridgen (31) and the experienced Colin Randall shared 70 for the first wicket before Fraser Hill pinned the former lbw.

Hill, who had the misfortune of bowling 21 wides, then trapped Randall (54) in front after the veteran had reached a patient half-century.

Wimborne were now 118-2 but their chase gathered pace as Joe Kelly (39no) and Simon Watkins (20no) scored at close to six-per-over.

Kelly was the more aggressive, striking three sixes and five fours, as the duo made 63 between them to claim all 20 points with 12.3 overs to spare.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “I feel we batted well, Henry especially, but it was the same thing with a lot of starts.

“No-one really played a terrible shot other than myself. I can’t really complain about the effort with the bat but we were 70 runs short.

“I couldn’t have asked any more from the boys in terms of the first 20 overs. They probably scored 50-odd, we’ve created four or five chances that have all gone down.

“If they’re taken we’re into their middle order a lot sooner. I can’t complain with the effort, everyone gave a reaction and on another day it’s a different game.

“It’s just the chances. You snatch at them when you haven’t won and you’re in a big game, like it was, and it’s good batsmen.

“You overthink things and snatch at a chance when you’d take it ordinarily.”

Martinstown Seconds stayed top of Division Four after beating Broadstone Seconds by 95 runs, 15-year-old leg-spinner Jadan Gerety claiming a stunning 8-24.