MARNHULL 195-5 (17pts) beat BEAMINSTER 192-5 (6pts) by five wickets

IN AN enthralling contest Marnhull successfully chased their target with three overs remaining in the County Division Two.

After being put in bat, Beaminster’s total was built around a determined knock by skipper Ross Baker who batted for 39 overs for his 62, before he was bowled by Edwin Ralph.

Chris Park had been the first to go with Beaminster on 52-1, when he was caught by Ralph.

Cameron Lucas chipped in with 16 before he was bowled by Cameron Cudlipp.

On a challenging surface with variable bounce, Rich Runyard also excelled with an excellent 48 not out.

At tea, Beaminster were content with their total but Marnhull’s reply started well when the openers took advantage of loose deliveries.

Although Ross Baker (1-18) dismissed the dangerous skipper James Vitali, youngster Danny Harkin hit a mature 51 before being bowled by Frances Medley to guide his team to victory.

Joe Hawkins took 3-42 but Beaminster were made to rue dropped catches and too many loose deliveries.

Beaminster captain Ross Baker said: “We actually thought at the interval that we had a pretty good score because there was quite a lot of variable bounce. They put us in and we really had to work hard to get that total.

“They bowled pretty well, to be fair, but we batted hard and at the time we thought 192 would have been enough but unfortunately we did not bowl or field as well as in the previous week and I think that was the main difference between the sides.

When asked if the bounce could have impacted their bowling, Baker said: “I do not think we bowled enough consistent length really.

“I think most of our bowling was guilty of pitching the ball too short or overpitching.

“They certainly punished you when you miss your length and those deliveries.”

Beaminster host Kingston Lacy at the Memorial Ground on Saturday (1.30pm) looking to secure their second win of the season.

Baker, looking ahead to the match, said: “I think we will be much more comfortable at home, we know our own pitch and we know a good score on our own pitch so we are pretty confident.

“Hopefully our batting will continue. We have been quite impressed with our batting so far.”

Elsewhere in Division Two, Witchampton beat Cranborne by 72 runs in a low-scoring affair, while Blandford smashed Stalbridge Seconds by 196 runs.

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