In vain: Seamer Simon Jones took two quick wickets but couldn't prevent defeat
BEAMINSTER 139 (4pts) lost to MARNHULL 140-4(25pts) by six wickets.
BEAMINSTER succumbed to their second successive Dorset Funeral Plan Division One defeat on Saturday with a disappointing six wicket reverse to Marnhull.
Playing their first competitive match at the Memorial Ground this summer, the hosts were bowled out four over shy of their allotted 50 having mustered only 139, before Marnhull confidently knocked off the runs with ample time to spare.
Beaminster captain Richard Bugler won the toss and opted to bat, but didn't expect the visitors' opening bowler Simon Sweatman to rip through the top order with a devastating spell of 3-34 from 10 overs.
Sweatman dismissed three of the hosts' top four, including Simon Jones (11) and Joe Hawkins (6), which left Beaminster tottering at 58-4.
Richard Runyard notched a useful 26 but was bowled by Les Elsworth (2-28) and only a stubborn 30 from Bugler gave the scorecard some semblance of respectability as the last six wickets fell for 59 runs.
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Beaminster's total never seemed defendable, but Jones (2-29) bowled like his England namesake at the start of Marnhull's innings and claimed two quick wickets.
He dismissed Mike Brown and Josh Mackay while the score remained rooted on 28 as Beaminster sensed a slim hope of causing a mighty upset, which sent some jitters into the visitors' camp.
However, a 47-run partnership steadied Marnhull and despite Adam Herring - playing his first home match for Beaminster - impressing again with the wicket of opener Ed Lewis for 17, keeper Horne crashed a belligerent unbeaten 41 to steer his side over the line.
Skipper Bugler, who has stepped down from captaining duties due to increased work commitments that will limit his playing opportunities, blamed his side's lacklustre batting for the loss, which collectively failed for the second week running.
He said: "Our bowling and fielding was good, it's just our batting that let us down again.
"The match was closer than last week and it's a shame that we lost but nice to see that we have improved."
Ross Baker will take the reigns for the remainder of the season, starting with Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.
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