KINGSTON LACY 260-6 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 181 (7pts) by 79 runs

A HEFTY hundred by James Holton and six wickets for George Holt gave Kingston Lacy a win which saw them leapfrog Beaminster in the County Division Three table.

The visitors’ recent run of victories came to an end against a Kingston Lacy outfit much stronger than the one who triumphed in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign.

Beaminster were without the all-round services of Ross Baker for the first time this season.

The hosts batted first on a very dry wicket and signalled their aggressive intent from the opening delivery.

Although Will Everitt (2-39) soon nipped out both openers with his pace and swing, a strong middle order kept the run rate ticking over without ever quite being able to break loose as the shine came off the ball.

The ground fielding on a very bumpy surface was good, with William Murley and Vijay in particular making sure that absolutely nothing got past them.

The bowlers, led by the wily Aidey Phillips, whose variations in length and loop brought him a tidy return of 1-28 and kept the batsmen on their toes throughout, stuck gamely to their task.

A late acceleration saw the total rise to a daunting 260-6, anchored by a superb 132 from standout performer Holton.

The other wicket takers were Francis Medley (2-41) and Adam Herring (1-69), with the latter also clinging on to a tremendous catch at extra cover.

Rich Runyard and Hugh Rathbone got Beaminster’s reply off to a decent start, but wickets soon started falling regularly on a pitch that was beginning to misbehave alarmingly.

Some balls reared up while others of a similar length shot through at ankle height.

Runyard confidently took the attack to the bowlers, but after he was out for an attractive 45 the batsmen opted instead to knuckle down and try to gain as many bonus points at they could by batting out their full quota of overs.

Brian Earl and Dave Persey joined all-rounders Everitt, Medley and Phillips in either grafting or blasting their way to double figures.

The pick of the knocks was undoubtedly Persey’s watchful 38, punctuated by fine shots on both sides of the wicket.

Dave Penman marshalled the tail well to secure an extra batting point.

The scoring rate, however, never got close to that required and the innings eventually closed on 181 and a defeat by 79 runs.

Beaminster host Dorchester Seconds this Saturday, while Beaminster Seconds, whose opponents last weekend, Parley Fifths, scratched their contest, visit Witchampton Seconds in Division Six.