BEAMINSTER 161-5 (20pts) beat WIMBORNE & COLEHILL THIRDS 157 (5pts) by five wickets

BEAMINSTER secured an impressive fourth consecutive home victory after comfortably beating Wimborne and Colehill Thirds by five wickets.

After being set a target of 158, openers Dan Spiller (41) and Hugh Rathbone (61) put on an excellent 92-run partnership for the first wicket.

Loose deliveries were punished by the big hitting pair as they went on the attack in pursuit of the modest target.

In the first innings, the Beaminster bowlers pegged back the visitors by taking wickets at regular intervals.

Ross Baker bowled a tidy spell taking two wickets; Simon Jones was the most successful bowler claiming 3-22 from his nine overs.

However, it was youngster Fergus Rees who took two crucial wickets in consecutive balls to ensure Beaminster had a low target to chase.

Despite a mid-innings wobble as they set about chasing down the under-par total, brothers Justin (17no) and Leo (1no) Gurd hit the winning runs as Beaminster ran out winners.