WIMBORNE & COLEHILL II 158-5 (19pts) beat BEAMINSTER 154-9 (5pts) by five wickets

A WEAKENED Beaminster team lost by five wickets at the Leaze to Wimborne & Colehill Seconds in County Division Two.

On a scorching hot day, Wimborne surprisingly elected to field after winning the toss.

Experienced openers Simon Jones (40) and Ross Baker shared an excellent 79-run opening stand. On a bouncy wicket with a fast outfield, the pair ruthlessly hit any stray deliveries and were untroubled until home skipper Ben Ratcliffe (3-19) took a fine return catch to dismiss Jones.

The floodgates then opened as the away team’s middle order collapsed meekly. Seven wickets were lost for 46 runs including Baker’s who batted for 30 overs for his 43 runs.

However, Beaminster’s tail wagged through Fergus Rees (12) and Giles Moss (17no) as the home team fielders began to wilt in the heat. The battling duo secured another batting point and ensured the full allotted overs were bowled as Beaminster closed on 154-9.

In a 20-minute spell before an extended tea break, Beaminster took the wicket of Darren Jones (3) as he was stumped brilliantly by Leo Gurd off Baker’s bowling.

After tea, despite some tight bowling from Dave Persey and Simon Jones (1-8), the home team built crucial middle order partnerships.

Fergus Rees took two wickets and Will Moss claimed 1-27 to give Beaminster two bowling points before Wimborne chased their target with 11 overs and five wickets remaining, Tom Butcher top-scoring with 58.

Speaking to Echosport, Baker felt his charges were hamstrung by injuries to key batsmen.

He said: “It was a game where we were just trying to pick up as many points as possible.

“Three of our normal top five are all injured. That’s not going to improve in the next few weeks.

“We were pleased to get to 150 in the end. We had a middle-order collapse and fortunately our tail did wag – it was looking bleak at one stage.

“Wimborne have got a strong batting line-up so they were comfortable getting that target.”

He added: “The positives were the return to form for Will, he bowled well, looked more relaxed and found his right line and length.

“Fergus has come back into the side and bowled well. Our bowling’s looking pretty steady, it’s just our batting needs to start to click.

“Obviously it’s tough when we’ve had so many injuries to our main batters.”

Beaminster next host third-placed Marnhull on Saturday (1.30pm).

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchoSportNeil