CRANBORNE 146-2 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 145 (4pts) by eight wickets

BEAMINSTER lamented their luck after three of their top order were undone by the uneven bounce of the wicket at Cranborne.

Batting first, the visitors struggled to get to grips with the surface and, after Alistair Crawford retired hurt having top scored with 30, they folded, setting the hosts just 146 for the win.

The home side did that with aplomb with Carl Poore (49) and Matt Butcher (41) scoring freely.

Marc Harris started brightly for the hosts, removing both the Beaminster openers – Daniel Hillier and Hugh Rathbone – cheaply, before Kean Gorgizadeh saw the back of Leo Gurd and Ross Baker, who played nicely for his 19.

Gurd made just one when he was bowled by the paceman, and Baker, who had timed the ball well, was caught behind.

This brought Crawford to the crease to rebuild the innings and he batted nicely, reaching 30.

But the uneven bounce in the pitch proved painful as a length ball rose to hit him in the face after he had top edged it.

He was left with a nasty mouth injury and had to depart to Salisbury hospital.

Beaminster never recovered from losing their inform batsman and were ultimately short of a fielder and slow bowler.

Aidey Phillips (26) also looked in fine form, but he was also undone by the uneven bounce as he was bowled by Butcher.

Youngster Lewis Keenan (17no) attempted to recover the innings but he ran out of partners before Beaminster were bowled out for a below par score of 145 as the tail all fell cheaply.

Nick Hollely and David Penman were both removed cheaply by Butcher. Poore was in good touch for the hosts behind the stumps as the wicketkeeper took four catches.

Cranborne then took advantage of the weakened bowling attack due to the injury as they chased their target in 23.5 overs.

Opener David Coy scored freely, notching up 39 before Nick Hollely (2-54) bowled him.

Hollely was the only one to pick up any wickets for the visitors as he also removed Gorgizadeh for four.

The other bowlers struggled to make much of an impact, but Baker did bowl economically, conceding 33 runs from his nine overs.

Poore and Butcher put the Beaminster bowlers to the sword to see their side home in convincing fashion.

Up next for Beaminster is a home game against Dorchester Seconds on Saturday (1.30pm).