Martinstown lose by 51 runs to Christchurch - report

MARTINSTOWN suffered their first Wessex Internet Dorset League defeat of the season courtesy of a 51-run reverse at home to Christchurch.

Charlie Durant’s men had taken victory in every one of their 50-over games in Premier Two and topped the standings before the T20 segment of the season. They now sit second after Chalke Valley beat Swanage.

Town's form did not transfer to the new 100-over format, even after dismissing Christchurch for 147.

Using new rules allowing bowlers to send down up to 28 overs in the first innings to his advantage, Durant bowled 16 overs of his left-arm spin and took 6-47.

READ MORE: Dorchester seal T20 double over Martinstown

He is now the top wicket-taker in Premier Two, his haul reinforced by Dave Trotter, who bagged 2-58 from his 14 overs of seam.

Barbados seamer Demario Slocombe (0-29) went unrewarded in his eight overs, but Fraser Hill came on to take 2-9 in quick time as the visitors posted a low score.

Jy Taylor (49) and Sonny Viney (37) were the only Christchurch batters to make notable scores.

Town were heavy favourites to chase the target down easily, although away seamer Charlie Rodgers had other ideas.

Either side of tea, the Christchurch opener claimed a colossal 8-36, bowling 14 overs through, to decimate Martinstown’s order.

He accounted for star batter Ed Nichols (4) in his first over and was backed up by Jamie Squire (1-15), who pinned Jack Kane lbw for a 12-ball duck.

Rodgers then ran riot, claiming the next seven wickets with only Ry Gerety (29) able to score fluently.

However, Rodgers prised him out and, were it not for a flamboyant 34 from overseas star Slocombe, Martinstown would have lost by a greater margin.

The all-rounder struck 34 from 21 balls, crashing two fours and three sixes.

Slocombe was the final wicket to fall, cleaned up by Harry Mallalieu (1-0) with his first delivery as Rodgers was denied a nine-wicket haul.

Speaking to Echosport, Durant said: “I guess it was an off day from everyone.

“In truth, we didn’t deserve to win the two games before the T20 break. I feel like this has been coming. Hopefully it’s a wake-up call.

“We need to go back to basics and build an innings. Fair play to the lad who took eight-for.

“I think he’ll probably admit that he hasn’t bowled well enough to get eight wickets, we’ve handed him three or four.”

Durant denied the outcome arose through complacency, adding: “I don’t think so.

“We had an hour before tea where people decided they wanted to block out.

“If we were playing a different way, we probably wouldn’t have played some of the shots we did.

“That session is what’s killed us, rather than complacency. I think people wanted to survive rather than score runs.”

Asked for his initial reaction to the new 100-over format, Durant said: “We only used four bowlers.

“Dave and I got through some overs, we got used to it and set attacking fields.

“To bowl team out for 147, you’re happy with that. It’s just that we let ourselves down with the bat.”

Martinstown Seconds defeated Marnhull Seconds by nine wickets in County Division Four.

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