SHERBORNE II 207-8 (9pts) lost to BEAMINSTER 210-9 (19pts) by one wicket

BEAMINSTER gained their first victory of the season with a narrow one-wicket victory against Sherborne Seconds.

It was a tense chase for the hosts who required nearly 100 runs in the last 15 overs with five wickets left.

Ross Baker (64 not out) played a sublime innings as he battled hard with the tail, as Beaminster won with one over to spare.

After winning the toss, Sherborne Seconds looked set for a huge total as they raced to 147-2.

However, Beaminster’s slow bowlers Ali Crawford (2-37) combined with youngster Fergus Rees (3-33) to gain control of the match.

Rees dismissed the dangerous skipper Adam Smith for 89 and David Barnstable (51) after they had shared a 115-run partnership. Sherborne’s John Laird was the only other batsman in the visitors’ line-up who reached double figures.

Beaminster’s fielding was superb throughout as Justin Gurd, Adam Herring, Crawford and William Murley all took excellent catches.

Simon Jones returned to mop up the tail as Sherborne Seconds closed on a competitive 207-8.

In reply with the bat, Jones (21) and Crawford (31) looked to have put Beaminster into a commanding position before a mid-innings wobble to set up a pulsating finish.

But Baker, who has come in at number four for Beaminster, refused to give his wicket up and was well supported by the lower order batters, who all contributed and ran well between the wickets.

In a nervous finish with just six balls to spare, Baker managed to see his side home alongside number 11 Rees. The success means Beaminster sit second-bottom of County Division Three.