SHOCKED Swanage failed to recover from visiting bowler James Dunham’s assault with the ball in Saturday’s two-wicket defeat to Dorchester.

Dunham (4-25) claimed the scalps of openers Mike Salmon and Francis Kerins and captain Ricky King for single figures and saw off Ben Baczala for a duck. 

Dan Salmon (21), Jem Warner (15), top scorer Matt Beard (31) and Mike Hernandez (19) did all they could to steady the ship but the Swans were all out for 113 inside 40 overs. 

Ryan Norman (2-15) got the hosts’ defence off to the perfect start by providing the delivery from which Beard caught Dorch Sean Fitzgerald for no score. 

However, Peter Phillips (37) and Simon Mitchem (27) settled in to put Dorchester in a commanding position. 

The duo had little in the way of support with the rest of the visiting batsmen managing only single figures as Ian Booth (3-22) and Warner (3-43) attacked with gusto but Dorchester still pouched victory with a total of 116 for eight with seven overs to spare. 

  • Free-scoring Wimborne & Colehill swiftly swept aside old enemies Parley with a consummate 140-run success at the Leaze. 

The Minstermen didn’t look back after George Bartlett (30) and skipper James Miller (38) put on 83 for the opening wicket, with a further 86 racked up between Simon Woodruff (50) and Grant Cormack (58) for the fifth. 

Parley’s seven bowlers just could not get to grips with Wimborne and claimed just one maiden all afternoon. Alex Sands (3-42) was the pick of the wicket takers. 

And the visitors fared little better with the bat with Ed Bartlett (3-13) seeing off opener Ollie Thomas for a duck. James Williams (2-34) joined the party. 

With none of their top seven scoring any more than 10, Parley were stuck on 39 for six when George Wilson (41) offered some semblance of resistance.

But Parley were still seen off for 125 all out as Wimborne’s Lewis Naylor (2-14) helped tidy up the tail, with the result seeing the home side leapfrog their rivals into fourth place in the Premier Division table.

  • James Brown’s 62 was music to skipper Steve Trembath’s ears as Broadstone kept pace at the Dorset Saturday League summit with a four-wicket win at Martinstown.

Brown bludgeoned eight fours and a six to rack up his solid total and created a 73-run stand alongside Luke Carter (52) for the third wicket as the visitors chased a total of 207 at Lower Ashton Farm. 

Daniel Cook (39*) rattled off a run per ball with Carlyle Collins (19*) seeing Broadstone over the line with a total of 208 for six from 44 overs. 

Opener Ed Nichols (74), Matt Camp (25) and Tom Nicholls (34) top scored for the hosts. Broadstone’s Ross Tooley (3-41) performed well with the ball. 

  • Second-placed Poole Town maintained their pursuit of leaders of leaders Sherborne with a single-wicket victory at Stalbridge. 

The Dolphins registered 19 points having scored 236 for eight in their chase of 235 for nine at Park Road.