Martinstown beat Chalke Valley by six wickets

MARTINSTOWN struck an early blow in the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier Two title race with a statement six-wicket win at Chalke Valley.

Chalke, who have rushed up the leagues in recent seasons, have made their home ground a fortress in doing so.

However, Martinstown proved why they instead could lay claim to being the early title favourites with a third consecutive victory in highly impressive circumstances.

In a match that produced 483 runs, the highest of any match in the Dorset League, Chalke set an imposing 241 to win after another magnificent innings from captain Joe Weld.

READ MORE: Martinstown beat Hamworthy Recreation by seven wickets

His classy 119 from 136 balls underlined his status as one of the best players in the county and gave Chalke the foundation to build around him.

Weld and opening partner Harry Thomas both breezed to half-centuries and rocketed their side to 142-0 before Thomas (51) offered a return catch to Town skipper Charlie Durant (1-32).

However, Weld continued the deluge of runs to bring up his first century this season and piloted Chalke above 200.

When he departed, bowled by Finlay Williams (1-43) having struck 15 fours and a six, Chalke pushed on as Guy Souch accrued 37 from 41 balls and James Holland ended on 13 from 18.

Martinstown were given an early blow in the chase when Rupert Thomas (2-60) struck twice to remove last week’s centurion Henry Lewis (4) and Sean Williams (1).

Town responded in perfect fashion, though, with a 134-run stand for the third wicket.

Alongside the ever-dependable former Dorset batter Ed Nichols, the rise of Ry Gerety continued.

Both players carved their way to the sixties at a decent lick as Chalke struggled for answers.

Nichols notched his 78th club fifty but could only add an additional 13 runs before Harry Thomas (1-31) ruined his chances of a century.

Gerety also saw his chance for three figures vanish after a brutal, and contest-ending, knock from Finlay Williams.

Entering the crease at 163-3, Williams smashed 43 from 30 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes, cutting Gerety little slack.

He did not have enough runs remaining to bring up his ton but still finished unbeaten on 91 with nine fours and three maximums as Town won with 19 balls to go.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant underlined how good Gerety’s batting display was, adding to his 72 on the opening day.

He said: “Last season he had his struggles but he probably practises harder than anyone else at the club.

“I’m really happy for him to pipe up with two important knocks. He’s rightly annoyed at Finlay because he’s robbed him of a hundred!

“We’re firing with the bat, I can’t be happier. It wasn’t ideal, we lost two wickets early in a big chase.

“But, full credit to Ry, who’s batted beautifully. Ed’s laid another platform and Finlay’s come in and injected a bit of life into the innings and got us over the line.”

Despite conceding 240, Durant always felt Town were in the game.

“A hundred per cent,” he said. “There was no time when it felt like they were getting away from us.

“We restricted them really well. Ryan Blair bowling at the death with Finlay, between them they went for one or two boundaries in the last 10 overs.

“At that point, they had eight or nine wickets in hand. I couldn’t have asked for any more.

“It could easily have been 300. Some days you’re not going to take wickets but we contained them and set it up.”

Elsewhere, Martinstown Seconds lost a low-scoring game at home to Weymouth Seconds in County Division Four.

Weymouth were dismissed for 134 but Pete Sapsworth took a hat-trick on his way to a stunning 5-16 as Martinstown were dismissed for 95.