BLANDFORD skipper Kev Robbins was delighted with his team’s effort in the field as they recovered from a batting collapse to defeat Stalbridge.

Robbins’s men looked well placed at 120 for two batting first against Stalbridge, but they failed to follow up their good start and only Chris Cole (58) and Alex White (35) made notable scores as Blandford were bowled out for just 158.

But led by Sunil Sawney (3-20), Blandford responded well and skittled Stalbridge for 129 to win a low-scoring contest by 29 runs.

Captain Robbins said: “We were 50 or 60 runs short of what we were looking for.

“But I can’t fault our performance in the field. We were disappointed with our batting but channelled it into our fielding and bowling.”

Dan Brockway, Ollie Trowbridge and Dan Britton claimed two wickets apiece for the victors.

  • First-team debutant Lee Hanratty was the star turn as Broadstone defeated Wimborne and Colehill by 41 runs.

He hit 90 and, ably supported by Matt Thomas (43) and Sam Chapman (36), helped Broadstone to a formidable 293 all out.

Wimborne’s reply started well with Colin Randall hitting 70 out of an opening stand of 99 in just 15 overs. But a change of ends brought Greg Parsons a change of luck and, with Matt Spraggs (3-32) turning it on a flat wicket, Wimborne were reduced to 160 for eight.

A partnership of 81 between Rob Hatchard (58) and Ed Steele (42*), who earlier had to visit hospital after suffering a facial injury in the field, gave Wimborne hope, but former Marnhull bowler Mike Holm cleaned up the final two wickets as the chasing side fell short.