STURMINSTER MARSHALL 215-5 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 93 (2pts) by 122 runs

BEAMINSTER were comprehensively beaten by 122 runs at Sturminster Marshall after a woeful batting display.

The hosts were put in and scored an impressive 215-5 after an excellent 105-run partnership between Ross Humphrey (87no) and Julian Flower (72).

In response, the visitors never really got going, as Ross Baker and Pete Bustin were the only batsmen to reach double figures as they were bowled out for 85.

Sturminster did get off to a poor start in the first innings as Bustin got rid of Bob Henshaw for six early on.

The visitors took three more early wickets and at 51-4, Beaminster looked to be in control of the match when Will Moss took two wickets in his second over.

Humphrey then scored 15 boundaries in his unbeaten innings.

Although the economical Baker (1-27) returned to dismiss Flower, Sturminster continued to score runs freely before closing on 215-5.

The reply didn’t start well for the visitors as they lost Rob Meech (5), Leo Gurd (1) and Ali Crawford (6), who all fell to Will Gage – two were bowled and the other was run out by the bowler.

Daniel Spiller and Lewis Keenan were both dismissed for ducks – the latter falling to the impressive Gage (3-11).

Then came an excellent partnership between Baker (27) and Bustin (36), but the travelling batsmen showed little fight and application.

They were dismissed for just 93 in 22 overs; the sorry card included five ducks and nine single figure scores.