PUDDLETOWN 156ao (5pts) lost to BEAMINSTER 157-4 (20pts) by six wickets

BEAMINSTER recorded their second County Division Two win of the season with an excellent six-wicket success over high-flying Puddletown at Winfrith.

Despite several senior players being unavailable stand-in captain Richard Runyard (3-30) took advantage of a very green wicket as he claimed the first three wickets to leave the hosts on 21-3 after eight overs.

He was fully supported by Daniel Swift (1-15) as he beat the opposition’s bat on numerous occasions. First change bowler Simon Jones (3-31) then came on and he picked up three wickets from his nine overs.

Oli Bareham also claimed a well-executed run out but Puddletown skipper Adam Barrett batted superbly for his 42 with support from Tom Blair (25). The key wicket of Barrett eventually fell to the bowling of Ali Crawford (1-28) from a sharp catch by Adam Moss as wickets then kept on falling to leave the hosts on 108-9.

However, a last-wicket partnership of 48 frustrated Beaminster’s bowlers as the score passed 150. Bareham (1-29) then took the final wicket as the hosts’ innings closed on 156.

In reply, Beaminster’s openers Ali Crawford (31) and Luke King (50) started positively by hitting numerous boundaries as they put 89 on for the first wicket inside 15 overs.

King passed 50 in his first innings for the club and once both openers departed, Swift (40) came in and continued where they left off as he kept hitting the ball to the boundary.

Despite losing another two wickets Beaminster reached their target in the 30th over to win by six wickets.

Beaminster next host promoted side Shaftesbury on Saturday (1.30pm).