DORCHESTER 110-0 (20pts) beat CHRISTCHURCH 106 (1pt) by ten wickets
DORCHESTER registered their biggest win of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League season, thrashing Christchurch by ten wickets at the Rec.
Jon Legg’s men breezed to victory in about as one-sided a contest as they could have hoped for at this level.
The maximum-point haul of 20 points also keeps them in touch with leaders Wimborne, who extended their unbeaten record by seeing off Sherborne in an 86-run success at the Terrace.
There remains a 26-point gap between the sides but Dorchester did all they could after losing the toss and fielding first.
READ MORE: Dorchester beat Sherborne by six wickets
Christchurch were in dire straits at 33-6 as Dan Belt (3-45) and Rob Nobbs (3-11) ripped through the visitors’ top order.
Dan Squire (25) and Spencer Briars weathered the storm with a 40-run partnership but Dileepa Kumar (1-22) dismissed the former with a good return catch.
Briars went on to hit two sixes and three fours but Krish Subramanian (2-10) hit back with the wicket of Nick Marsh (8) before bowling Briars (34).
And Kiwi overseas all-rounder Harry Jones (1-16) wrapped up the innings for 106 when Dave Rodgers (5) was stumped by Jim Ryall.
Chasing just 107, Dorchester’s chase was always likely to be a formality and the hosts sauntered along at more than a run per ball.
Christchurch used six bowlers in just 17.1 overs but could not prevent Legg (50no) reaching a fluent half-century.
Legg was patient enough to pick off the poor balls, stroking nine fours in his 59-ball stay at the crease.
He was ably assisted by a handsome unbeaten 46 from 44 balls, including ten boundaries, from Sathiya Narasimhan as Dorchester galloped home.
Speaking to Echosport, Legg admitted the magnitude of Dorchester’s win came as a surprise.
He said: “It was the perfect performance from us if I’m honest. From start to finish we were excellent.
“You never know what teams like Christchurch are going to turn up with, so I guess we were surprised by the margin of victory.
“It was very comfortable, the pitch was flat, the bowlers bowled good areas and got rewarded for it, making it an easy target to chase.
“Belty and Nobbsy were fantastic with the new ball up front and had them on the back foot early.
“Sati batted well again, it’s just what we’ve come to expect from him.”
Elsewhere, Dorchester Seconds beat Poole Town Thirds by 86 runs in County Division Three, while Dorchester Thirds won by 16 runs against Poole Town Fifths in Division Six.
The seconds are sitting in fourth while the thirds are fifth in their respective divisions.
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