Corfe Mullen beat Beaminster by 243 runs

BEAMINSTER were demolished by 243 runs as Corfe Mullen bowled the west Dorset side out for 45 in County Division One.

Chris Park’s men endured a torrid afternoon in all departments, bowling sloppily first up and then completely subsiding with the bat.

It leaves Beaminster bottom of the table, still winless after five games and with a home clash against in-form Weymouth to come on Saturday (1pm).

The match was effectively over midway through Corfe’s innings, the hosts winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

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Every Corfe batter made strong contributions as opener Richard Witherington top-scored with 63.

Fellow opener Nigel Stannard made 25 before he was pinned lbw by Rob Meech (1-38), but Sean Mulley continued the punishment as Beaminster’s bowling veered in accuracy.

Mulley (49) fell short of his half-century to Will Moss (1-46) but Dan Flooks (34no) and Michael Jordan (53no) maintained the pressure on an away attack that conceded a staggering 64 extras.

Only Ross Baker (1-37), who dismissed Witherington, and Jack Handford (0-46) bowled with any sort of control as Beaminster conceded 46 wides in total.

In reply, Beaminster’s top order was ripped apart by a phenomenal spell from Zeeshan Haider, who claimed 4-7 from nine overs.

Only Handford (21no) made it beyond five runs in the Beaminster order as the sorry visitors were dismantled in 22.3 overs, Manav Kathpalia destroying the tail with 4-4 in just 15 balls.

“It was probably the worst day of my captaincy in three years in charge,” Park told the Bridport News.

“Everything that could go wrong went wrong. The game was pretty much over in the first 20 overs, we bowled terribly. Wide after wide, no-ball after no-ball.

“We had absolutely zero control of the game. It’s been hard to try and digest.

“When their innings was over, I just wanted a bit of fight and really didn’t get any.

"I can accept losing, like anyone, but I can’t accept losing like that. It was a pretty dismal day and one I don’t care to go through again.”

Looking ahead to Weymouth, Park added: “We have to enjoy our cricket again. I don’t think it can get any lower.

“Something I wanted to do when I took over was that win or lose we’d all stick together.

“We hit the ground running and played so well in our first year that we maybe got lulled into a false sense of security that it was a given this would happen every year.

“Then, last year we struggled and towards the end of the season found our feet. This year, maybe it’s a stronger league than we were prepared for.

“We have to make sure this Saturday that we come out fighting. I don’t care if we lose but I want us to put up a fight.”

Beaminster make four changes as Nick Hollely replaces Ben Fry, Paul Edwards comes in for James Edmunds, Simon Jones returns for Jonathan Gudge and in-form 16-year-old batter Ollie Hey is called up for Rob Meech.

Beaminster: W Moss, Park, A Moss, Handford, Golledge, Padwick, Baker, Jones, Edwards, O Hey, Hollely.