BRIDPORT 206-6 (19pts) beat SHERBORNE SECONDS 165-9 (7pts) by 41 runs

BRIDPORT made it two Division Three wins on the trot by beating Sherborne convincingly at The Terraces.

After a win against Broadstone Thirds, the visitors were eager to keep their momentum going into the last few games of a season heavily affected by inclement weather.

Captain Duane Gay lost the toss but was pleasantly surprised when the Sherborne captain asked Bridport to bat first on a flat wicket in sunny conditions.

Some accurate bowling and strategic field placing from Sherborne threatened to bog down Bridport’s opening batsmen, but some powerful hitting from Mark Smith (62) ensured the run rate remained reasonable through the first half of the innings.

Smith was the dominant contributor in a stand of 104 with Sam Challis (74) for the first wicket that lowered Sherborne’s morale and allowed Bridport to be more aggressive as the innings progressed.

After Smith departed, skipper Gay quickly followed, but youngster Oliver Lee provided able support to Challis.

The pair composed a quick 50-run stand before Lee was caught trying to force more runs out of a waning Sherborne bowling attack.

Challis had his eye on batting through the innings but some bad luck saw him run out with four overs remaining.

With wickets in hand the remaining batsmen managed to play expansively and push Bridport’s total to over 200.

Sherborne’s run chase began carefully with their opening batsmen not being given much to hit by Bridport’s opening bowlers Liam Toohill and Lee.

Gay rotated his bowlers regularly to keep Sherborne’s batsmen guessing, however, aggressive batting from the home captain almost took the game away from Bridport.

After he was run out, father-son duo Rod and Duane Gay took wickets at regular intervals.

Lee, Callum Pattinson and Challis kept things tight late on to ensure the home side were 42 runs shy of victory.

Bridport will seek to continue their winning ways when they host Hamworthy Seconds at the Brewery Ground this Saturday.