MARTINSTOWN 227-8 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 142 (6pts) by 85 runs

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE are now winless in 11 games as Martinstown took an 85-run win at Lower Ashton Farm.

After leading the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League title battle for a large portion of the season, Martinstown had gone off the boil in July.

But this result heralded a return to form for Town.

With the contest surviving thunderstorms and torrential rain the night before, Martinstown batted first after winning the toss.

Openers Steve Gerety (32) and captain Sam Kershaw (20) got Town off to a flyer, building to 54-0.

However, without adding another run, both men perished to Brad Mullins (1-14) and Liam Toohill (2-24) respectively.

Toohill also removed Sean Williams (3) before Will Maltby (65) and Hayden White (25) accelerated the scoring.

READ MORE: Rare double loss for Foxes

Maltby reached his third half-century of the season in helping the hosts to 167-5.

Ed Nichols then hit 39 from 22 balls, including three sixes and three fours, to rub salt in Cattistock’s wounds.

Martinstown eventually closed on 227-8 from 40 overs – a target that was never in the Foxes’ grasp.

From the off, Martinstown’s lethal bowling attack again displayed its prowess.

Jamie Stewart (3-31) and Dave Trotter (3-20) both took two wickets to reduce the visitors to 17-4.

Steve Tucker provided some resistance but Stewart and Trotter accounted for away skipper Brad Damen (4) and Ollie Legg (17).

At 53-6, Tucker pressed on and lived a charmed life as Town conspired to drop him no fewer than eight times.

Big-hitting Tucker (70) duly punished those missed chances by reaching his half-century, smearing seven fours and three sixes.

Ryan White (15) added late runs but Charlie Durant (3-32) spun Town to the brink of victory before Kershaw (1-9) finally bowled Tucker.

Losing captain Damen said: “They started well but we managed to fight back and slow their scoring.

“We needed to take more wickets in the middle overs but they managed to rebuild and then upped the scoring in the closing overs.

“We didn’t have a great start with the bat and are always on the back foot after that. Steve batted brilliantly along with Ollie and Ryan.”

The Foxes’ second team saw their County Division Four match with Broadstone Thirds abandoned due to the elements.

Broadstone batted first and found scoring easy early on. The new ball bowlers of Joe Etherington and Robin Jones went wicketless and it was not until Sam Good brought himself into the attack that the first wicket fell. James Boulton then took 4-34 as the visitors amassed 214-6 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Wes Lewis and Reuben Kingston were creating a solid platform for the run chase when rain started in the 11th over. By this time the score had risen to 76-0 and Lewis had reached his second half-century of the season.

Unfortunately the deluge continued and the game was abandoned, the home team claiming nine points for their efforts, Lewis and Kingston finishing unbeaten on 52 and 23 respectively.

Good said: “We were keen to bounce back from last week’s result, I thought Boulton bowled brilliantly and although we didn’t bowl them out we restricted them to a more than reasonable target.

“Wes started brilliantly with the bat and we looked on course to chase down our target so it was really frustrating when the rain arrived. Although ultimately it’s all good, we remain top as Poole were cancelled and Bere lost.”

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 164-8 (9pts) lost to PUDDLETOWN II 245 (19pts) by 81 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene Thirds lost by 81 runs to Puddletown Seconds in County Division Five after dismissing the visitors for 244.

Jade Wilkinson opened the bowling and claimed 3-49 from her six overs. There were also wickets for her brother Bradley (2-26) and a wicket each for Oliver James (1-27), Jack Bartlett (1-39), Damian Barnard (1-27) and Jay Collins (1-20).

In reply, the Foxes lost four quick wickets but captain Justin Gurd held firm and found support in Brad Wilkinson (16) and James (18) as they tried to bat out their overs and get as close to their target as possible.

Eventually, Gurd would be dismissed off the final ball of the innings for a very well made 91.