BEAMINSTER 250-6 (7pts) lost to WITCHAMPTON 253-5 (18pts) by 5 wickets

BEAMINSTER far exceeded the expectations of captain Will Everitt on Saturday, but he couldn’t help feeling they missed the boat against Witchampton at the Memorial Field.

Playing one man short with a side that included two very inexperienced youngsters, Beaminster made an excellent 250-6 in their 45 overs batting first.

Opener Simon Jones complied a superb 103 and Everitt 56 to rack up some vital batting points.

But the hosts were unable to contain Witchampton duo Adam Croker and Mark Bowles, who both made 71, as they took the visitors from 78-3 to 204-4.

And the side third in Division Three completed their triumph with only 10 balls left. For Everitt, it was a case of what might have been.

He said: “We weren’t able to field our strongest side and played with only 10 players.

“Two of those were the young sons of Mark Barber, who stood in at the last minute.

“To have been that competitive with an under-strength team, I couldn’t have asked for more.

“But to come so close was hard to take.”

He went on to add: “Simon Jones’ batting was top class and I think I’m right in saying that he is the first player to score a century for Beaminster in a league game for 11 years.

“I managed to find some form too and to get 250 was great.

“But Witchampton got on top when they batted and we couldn’t break their big partnership.

“I have to hold my hands up and say I didn’t bowl well at them and we let them get away from us.

“However, when we did take their wickets we felt an unlikely victory was on the cards but it wasn’t to be.

“And, on reflection, given the circumstances, I had very low expectations of winning the match so to come so close and pick up the bonus points we did exceeded them by a long way.”

The second-wicket partnership of 150 between Jones and Everitt set Beaminster on their way, while they gleefully accepted 45 extras from their opponents.

Jack Walklett snared two of the first three Witchampton wickets to fall before Croker and Bowles took charge.

They were eventually out to Murray Legg and Jones respectively but the middle order saw the visitors home.

On Saturday, Beaminster head to Bournemouth, the side immediately below them in the table.

Elsewhere, Beaminster Seconds, who host Stalbridge Thirds next, were soundly thumped by 228 runs at Charlton Down.

Replying to the hosts’ 312, Beaminster were routed for 84.