FERNDOWN skipper Eric Linge revealed the voluntary work put in to the Dolman’s Farm surface had paid dividends after rattling off an unbeaten 91 off just 51 balls.

Inspired by their captain’s knock, Wayfarers trounced struggling Dorchester by eight wickets to further cement second spot in Dorset’s top flight.

Chasing a total of 188, the hosts were reasonably placed before number three James Raftery (55*) helped himself to a half-century partnership with Neil Sexton.

And when Linge, who crossed the boundary with no fewer than 13 fours and four sixes, joined Raftery to leather Dorch’s bowlers all over the park, the rout was soon completed.

Linge told the Daily Echo: “I am one of the many who volunteer down on the pitch and we have turned it into a batsman’s paradise.

“It is a minimum 250 wicket now.

“We batted well but it is mainly down to the pitch and the fact their bowling was of second team standard.

“As always, it was easy to bat with Jimbo (Raftery) and we had a race. I was on 41, he was on 43 and I said ‘I bet I get to 100 before you get to 50’. It didn’t quite happen but I still beat him!”

Dorchester chose to bat but never really got a prolific partnership together as Linge (2-33) trapped in front opener Colin Edney, while Rhys Cole was rolled out for a duck by Andrew Armstrong.

It was to be the start of a good day for Armstrong (3-37) who went on to dismiss persistent opener Pete Moxom (42), Pete Diffey and James Dunham for a duck.

Marcus Evans (54) put up a strong fight for the strugglers, but Dean Elsworthy (3-33) eventually cut through the lower order.

The result saw Dorchester slip back to the bottom of the Premier League pile while Ferndown Wayfarers’ win saw them maintain a 20-point gap ahead of third-placed Broadstone, who beat Poole Town by 116 runs.