MARTINSTOWN 135ao (6pts) lost to SHERBORNE 218-8 (19pts) by 83 runs

MARTINSTOWN’S difficult run of form continued as a strong fightback from the Sherborne tail saw them lose by 83 runs in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

Tim Durston’s late 79 not out proved critical for the visitors, while the home side tumbled after the promising partnership between Tom Pope (28) and Sean Williams (31), which boosted the score by 49 runs, was broken up.

Sherborne won the toss, and elected to bat first, in a decision that initially looked to have been ill advised.

Matt Camp (1-44) caught and bowled Luke Hancock (5) with just eight runs on the board and the home side’s bowling was initially quite consistent.

Charlie Taylor (5) was the next to follow with 23 runs on the scoresheet, bowled by Chris Read (1-28).

Will Maltby then caught Emlyn Kuhn from a Jacob Coombs (3-33) delivery with the score now on 42-3, with the visitors unable to form any real partnerships at this point.

The home side continued to push on, and with the visitors seemingly struggling at 70-5 it seemed promising.

Yet at this point Sherborne’s order stiffened remarkably well.

Tom Harris was the next to go, caught by Teddy Andrews from a Charlie Durant (1-55) delivery, but with the score now on 112-6.

The wicket opened the door for Durston to come to the crease and, alongside Craig Jones (52), posted a tricky total for Martinstown to chase.

Martinstown struggled early on with the bat, with openers Ed Nichols (11) and George Pope (2) going with the score on 15 and 16 runs respectively.

The partnership of Tom Pope and Williams pushed the score on well to 65, before the former was dismissed.

Yet the wickets then tumbled regularly from then on, with just two partnerships able to put on more than 10 runs, with the home side dismissed for 135.

After the match Martinstown captain Sam Kershaw said: “I think we were never in a position to get going really.

“It is another frustrating one, a game that was in the palm of our hands and then we let it slip really. To have them at 60-4 at drinks and then they go on to hit 220 is a bit disheartening.

“Again, we came out and they batted better than us, they applied themselves. The guy who scored 50 deserved his knock.

“We bowled too many short balls, which is something I thought we corrected but obviously not. It is getting really frustrating to keep saying the same things every week.”

Martinstown travel to Christchurch on Saturday.