KINGSTON LACY 117-5 (19pts) beat BEAMINSTER 116 (3pts) by five wickets

WINLESS Beaminster are still searching for their first win of the season as they lost by five wickets to Kingston Lacy on Saturday.

On a slow pitch, Beaminster struggled with to adapt to the conditions, and made very little impact with the bat in the first innings.

They lost both openers, Leo Gurd (0) and Rob Meech (7), with only 31 on the board.

This soon became 39-4 as Ross Baker, who looked to be seeing off the early onslaught from the home side’s bowlers, was dismissed for 20 by the ever-threatening Dave Priddle (4-24). He also got rid of Daniel Spiller (1) to give the visitors a panicking start.

Will Everitt rode his luck while top scoring with 27 – he was dropped several times as he tried desperately to accelerate the score.

But wickets fell regularly and the scoring rate was below three runs per over for the majority of the innings as Beaminster limped to an inadequate total of 116 off 42 overs.

In reply, Lacy found conditions equally difficult as opening bowlers Baker (1-21) and the impressive Nick Hollely (3-23) ran in hard, giving maximum effort to make inroads.

However, batting at four was match-winner Karl Jones. He made an undefeated 60, including three fours and three sixes, that ensured the hosts reached their target in the 38th over after his team had been reduced to 30-3 earlier in the innings.

Up next for Beaminster is a home clash with Sherborne Seconds on Saturday.