SHROTON 245-8 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 230-4 (19pts) by six wkts (by D/L method)

MARTINSTOWN grabbed their first win of the season with a six-wicket win away at Shroton in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

Both Ed Nichols (54) and Sean Williams (50) hit half centuries in a mildly rain-affected contest.

Shroton meanwhile had Brendan Streather, who opened their previous two matches, batting in seventh and was the highest scoring batsman in the match, hitting 67.

Martinstown opted to field first, owing to the conditions, and Matt Camp and Will Maltby both put in fine performances, taking three wickets each.

Jacob Coombs also took two wickets as Martinstown were able to restrict Shroton to a scoreline the visitors felt was within their grasp to chase down.

Lee House (2) went early on as Martinstown began their turn at the crease, but the visitors quickly found their footing.

Nichols batted to a fine half-century, as did third batsman Williams (50) and come the end of the match House was the only away batsman to get less than 30 runs.

With the rain costing some overs, Martinstown were set a slightly lower score of 228 to surpass, with Fraser Hill (38no) and Williams seeing the visitors to victory.

Martinstown captain Sam Kershaw said the day could not have gone any better and also praised Maltby for his bowling progress.

Kershaw said: “It couldn’t have gone better to be honest.

“We started well up top, we decided to bowl, it was a bit rainy it was cloudy and I thought bowling would be a good option.

“Matt Camp bowled well up top, took 3-41, we set a field on a small ground and executed it.

“We set the field and knew we would take wickets and we did.

“They (Shroton) came out hard as they always do, but we knew anything under 250 was chase-able.

“They got 248 but we lost a couple of overs due to the rain.

“I think 248 we can chase easy on a small ground. Charlie Durant bowled excellently, none for 35 off 10 but to go for that figure as a spinner at the smallest ground in the league is quite an impressive feat.

“When they did go for runs he did not change it, he backed himself to bowl well which he did. Will as well stepped up, bowled extremely well, he is just starting to come through the ranks as a bowler now. He has stepped up with the bat and now he is becoming an all-rounder which is great.”