BEAMINSTER 136 (3pts) lost to HAMWORTHY REC 125-1* (revised target 124) by nine wickets

BEAMINSTER must wait to secure their first County Division One win of the season after a rain-affected nine-wicket home loss to Hamworthy.

Ross Baker’s men were asked to bat first with bad weather lurking and after a steady start were reduced to 73-3 as Jacob Gordon (3-17) removed Will (1) and Adam (3) Moss plus Baker (18).

The mainstay of Beaminster’s innings was Dan Hillier, who struck 49 before cruelly departing short of his half-century.

He was one of four scalps for third-change bowler Grant Cormack, whose 4-17 off six overs stifled Beaminster’s attempt to up the scoring rate.

Only Chris Park (18) and extras (34) got into double figures thereafter as the hosts were dismissed for 136.

With persistent rain falling in between innings, players and umpires agreed to continue.

And Hamworthy were in no mood to hang about, rapidly chasing down their revised 124 target in just 13 overs.

Gordon (54no) and Toby Berry (49) hammered 15 fours and three sixes between them, before Jacob Berry (11no) helped complete a landslide win.

Baker said: “It was quite wet but we can’t blame the defeat on the conditions.

“Hamworthy went on the attack, batted extremely well and got over the line very quickly. We couldn’t do much about it.”

On Beaminster’s batting, Baker added: “It was a sound foundation laid by Dan and Will.

“The only thing was we were a little behind the rate. We were looking to get 150-plus but once we did lose wickets, everyone that got in had to play aggressively.

“We kept losing wickets, so we went from 70-odd for two to 136 all out, which was very disappointing.

“Credit to Hamworthy’s change bowlers, they bowled extremely well. The conditions were good for swing bowling later in the innings.”

Baker now takes his troops to Swanage on Saturday (1.30pm) looking to get off the mark.

He said: “They’re an established Division One team. They’ve perhaps lost a few players but have some quality like Craig Wells, he scores runs regularly.

“They’re pretty good at home and we’re expecting another tough game – we’ll just do our best with the resources we’ve got.

“We’re working hard to get a stronger team together but it’s looking better in the latter half of the season. This first half’s been a real struggle.”

Chris Park is definitely unavailable and Nick Hollely (hand) could miss out after needing more stitches to repair torn webbing.