BEAMINSTER 81-2 (19pts) beat STURMINSTER MARSHALL 79 (1pt) by eight wickets

BEAMINSTER continued their remarkable winning streak as they comfortably won their sixth game in a row by eight wickets at home to Sturminster Marshall in County Division Three.

Second-placed Sturminster were without the likes of Paul Maitland and Calvin Brooks for the fixture, but Beaminster were in rampant mood and are one of the form teams in the division.

Stand-in captain Chris Park lost the toss and Sturminster skipper Henry Lockwood elected to bat first but the away side struggled thanks to some tight bowling by openers Nick Hollely (2-17) and Dave Persey (2-15), whose inspired spell included four maidens.

The duo removed the majority of the top order to reduce the visitors to 36-4 as Bob Henshaw (6), Max Tipping (10), Tony Lockwood (0), Mike Royles (4) and Jake Cornick (0) all fell cheaply.

First-change bowler Francis Medley (4-12) then dismantled the middle order and a sharp run-out by Ben Hollely saw Sturminster slip to 71-9.

Only Henry Lockwood (41) provided any resistance, his score making up more than half of the Sturminster total.

Beaminster held on to their chances with a great clinical edge as Park pouched two catches and Rob Meech bagging three more.

Simon Jones (1-7) then took the final wicket as the Sturminster innings closed on a lowly 79.

In reply, Beaminster openers Park (41no) and Leo Gurd (21) put on a 50 partnership as they kept the score ticking and punished some loose deliveries.

Park’s innings included nine boundaries and he led the team to victory in just 21 overs with the loss of two wickets. Lewis Keenan (10) also contributed, while only Callum Lockwood (1-16) and Lloyd Beals (1-22) made breakthroughs with the ball.

Beaminster will aim for a seventh successive win when they travel to Ashmore, who lie in fifth 11 points behind Beaminster with a game in hand, with Ross Baker’s men currently sitting 10 points behind Sturminster in second.

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