CHARLTON DOWN 102-3 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 99 (1pt) by seven wickets

BEAMINSTER were comprehensively beaten by Charlton Down at the Herrison Oval.

The hosts won the important toss and put Beaminster in on a early helpful wicket in this County Division Three contest.

A devastating spell of opening bowling saw Matt Stevens (4-20) and Dan Stevens (3-41) claim seven wickets between them, leaving Beaminster reeling on 32-7 after just 11 overs.

Matt Stevens bowled with good control and seamed the ball both ways to bowl each of his four victims where in contrast Dan Stevens swung the ball away and then nipped it back off the seam to surprise the Beaminster batsmen.

A change of bowling saw Javed Gill (1-22) bowl Pete Bustin and Kim Park (1-13) nipped out Dan Spiller with the score on 61-9.

The Beaminster innings looked like drawing to an early close. However, 14-year-old William Moss calmly set about supporting Nick Hollely. Both batsmen batted for nearly an hour adding 38 runs but the maturity of Moss was great to see at such a young age and was helped by Nick Hollely who top scored with 18 and was the only player to make double figures.

Hollely was eventually out leg before to the first ball bowled by Sam Roles but had batted for an hour and a quarter to frustrate the Charlton Down bowlers. The Beaminster innings closed on 99.

Charlton Down had to bat a tricky 11 overs before tea and lost Jae Miller for eight, plumb leg before wicket, by Hollely with the score on 17-1.

Nick Voss upped the run-rate as he crashed 27, four fours and a six, in just 19 balls.

Voss was well caught by Andy Crawford as he top edged a pull shot off Ross Baker (2-34) with the score on 46-2 and then Baker struck again removing Jack Eveleigh for nine with the score on 48-3.

Sam Roles (36no) was joined by Matt Stevens (12no) and 41 runs were smashed in the first three overs after tea to claim victory for Charlton Down in the 14th over.

Roles topped scored, hitting seven fours and a six in a 14-ball 36.