STRUGGLING Swanage remain embroiled in a four-way battle to beat the drop after Saturday’s four-wicket defeat at Broadstone. 

Swans paid the price for losing three of their first four batsmen to ducks with stellar efforts further down the order proving futile in the end. 

Mike Salmon departed without score and was swiftly followed by fellow opener Mike Wells and Ben Baczala as Broadstone’s Peter Thompson (2-52) sent Swanage into a tailspin at five for three. 

Captain Ian Booth (32) and Dorset prodigy Jem Warner (57) arrested the slide with a 76 partnership for the fourth wicket before Carlyle Collins (5-36) began to dent the visitors’ resolve. 

At 119 for six, Lewis Kirby (50) and Ryan Norman (43) boosted Swanage’s total with 73 for the seventh wicket but Collins tidied up the tail, restricting the target to 230. 

Robert Hatchard (3-35) got the defence off to a flyer by quickly claiming the scalp of James Brown but Broadstone opener Pete Russell (72) maintained a healthy run rate, finding the boundary on no fewer than 10 occasions. 

Luke Carter (50) walloped a half century, while Matt Swindlehurst (25) pushed the hosts towards their winning total. 

Booth, Warner and Wells each claimed a wicket but it was not enough as Broadstone reached 232 for six with four overs to spare.

  • Poole Town hit the summit after a consummate nine-wicket thumping of rock-bottom Weymouth. Dolphins hit 116 for one after bowling their visitors out for 113.

Their ascent was helped by Wimborne’s narrow nine-run victory over previous leaders Sherborne. Captain James Miller led by example with a crucial 47, while James Williams (3-52) shone with the ball.

Dominic Clutterbuck (35), George Wilson (35*) and Tom Barber (26*) produced a late flurry to seal Parley’s four-wicket success over Martinstown. Chasing a total of 186, Parley plundered 190 for six.