Martinstown beat Sherborne by seven wickets

CHARLIE Durant insists Martinstown were as “hot as a vindaloo” after securing their first win of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League season.

On their home turf at Lower Ashton Farm, Martinstown downed Sherborne by three wickets to break their duck at the seventh time of asking.

Sherborne regularly lost wickets on a humid day after being asked to bat first upon losing the toss.

Roger Parfitt’s 42 from 40 came at stark contrast to the batters around him as Nathan McNab (2-48) claimed two early scalps and Jacob Coombs (2-34) removed skipper Ryan Monk (8).

READ MORE: Martinstown batting like a 'poppadom' in Blandford loss

Durant (3-26) bowled beautifully in tandem with Coombs to first remove Parfitt short of his half-century and then eat into the Sherborne middle order.

The visitors were 97-7 before a spirited 61 not out from Tim Durston off 96 balls, including nine fours, helped Sherborne reach 175 all out after Jack Kane (2-11) and Dave Trotter (1-39) mopped up the tail.

In reply, Martinstown responded superbly to the early loss of Steve Gerety (4), bowled by Durston (2-61).

Returning to the side this weekend, Ed Nichols and Will Maltby showed Town what they had been missing with a glorious 123-run stand for the second wicket.

Both batters played with immense composure and measured their knocks while scoring quickly, punishing anything loose from the Sherborne attack.

Nichols (87no) was first to reach his fifty before Maltby (53) joined him, only to perish soon after when Andy Pinkawa (1-16) had him caught.

Durston then removed Henry Lewis (7) but Nichols, whose innings lasted 93 balls and contained 15 fours, safely guided Town home along with Sean Williams (6no).

And after last week likening Martinstown’s fragile batting to a poppadom, Durant felt the reverse was true in round seven after winning with 19.5 overs remaining.

He told Echosport: “Ed and Will have taken the sting out of the chase. It could’ve been a really tricky chase because of the way we’ve batted this year.

“But we were solid and Ed’s done what he’s done for years. Will played a really mature innings, he was composed. I asked him not to play any silly shots and he was controlled, got to fifty.

“We fielded amazingly. We were as hot as a vindaloo in the field, I would say. Perfect, really. I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“We kept believing. There was a stage where they had a partnership, Durston’s batted really nicely, and got themselves up to a respectable total.

“Kane-o broke the partnership like he did last week, so I can’t ask for any more from my bowlers or batsmen.”

On picking up the first win, Durant said: “It’s such a relief, it’s six weeks overdue.

“To actually finally win a game is perfect. No disrespect to Sherborne, that’s not the strongest side they’re going to put out this year but I’m glad it was against us.

“When you haven’t won a game, the kind of luck you got (Saturday) is what you need.”

Elsewhere, Martinstown Seconds lost by four wickets to Wimborne Thirds in County Division Four.