BROADSTONE 191 (7pts) lost to BERE REGIS 192-6 (20pts) by four wickets

BERE Regis ensured they finished the first month of the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League in top spot following a four-wicket win at Broadstone.

Coming into the game, the sides were at polar opposite ends of the six-team division, but Broadstone had won both of their previous matches against Bere.

They set their stall out again at the Delph, winning the toss and electing to bat first.

However, two early wickets for Rob Murphy and another for Rich Payne (1-27) decimated the hosts’ top order as they crashed to 12-3.

READ MORE: Bere Regis upset champions Wimborne

It took speedy half-centuries from Ben Jack (55) and Harry Leadbeater (63no), who belted six maximums in a fearsome display of clean hitting, to post a competitive total of 191 all out.

Murphy finished with figures of 3-33, while Sam Goodhew (2-42), Jacob Kennard (2-14) and Dean Rogerson (2-49) all chipped in.

Bere also lost quick wickets in their innings as Jack (3-50) bowled Tom Munnings (6) and had Goodhew (14) caught.

Pete Russell, against his former club, proved watchful in his 22 from 67 balls until he succumbed to a run out by Joe Manley.

Eral Anderson filled the void with 33 but his departure, quickly followed by Kennard (9), put Bere in trouble at 122-5.

Cameron Robertson made a trademark rapid cameo of 41 from 43 balls, with five boundaries and a six, but when Jack returned to rustle his timbers Bere still needed 28 runs to win.

However, they were guided over the line by the experience of Murphy (22no) and Rich Cole (15no), together with a healthy 30 extras, to win with 19 balls remaining.

Speaking to Echosport, Bere skipper Brian Keegan said: “It’s a really good result for us.

“It’s not the easiest place to go to. It was a competitive game. We’ve said about doing the simple things.

“Murph up top bowled really well and Payner did a good job. Sam did well in the middle overs.

“Given the dimensions of the ground, Deano with 2-49 and JK at the end bowled really well.

“Ben Jack and Harry Leadbeater made a competitive total and with our reply, Pete anchored the innings.

“Both Eral and Cam batted well in the middle overs and then Murph and Rich at the end saw us through.

“It was always a contest but doing the basics, batting in partnerships, is just the sign of a side that bats all the way down.

“We needed it. We had to do it the hard way, it was a little attritional at times but it’s trying to play the situation.

“I thought we did it admirably and it was a different type of win.”

Bere Regis Seconds lost by 81 runs to Puddletown in County Division Two.