WIMBORNE & Colehill captain James Miller admitted his side had to overcome a "sloppy" spell with the ball to make a winning start to their Dorset Premier League title defence.

The Minstermen let Stalbridge wriggle off the hook during their innings, with the visitors recovering from 72 for seven to post a competitive 148.

Miller's team made a poor start to their reply, losing their second wicket with only 25 on the board.

But George Bartlett and David Guest – two players the skipper claimed "had to score runs" – combined in a century stand to ease Wimborne & Colehill to an ultimately comfortable seven-wicket success.

Miller told the Daily Echo: "We had them seven down and, looking back, we should have tried to kill the game off and got them out for fewer than 100.

"We possibly got a little bit sloppy. Stalbridge's batsmen were, mostly, getting themselves out. We didn't bowl particularly well and we just expected to keep picking up wickets.

"But they had the one partnership, when we got lazy. We should have broken it earlier and killed the game."

Paceman Martin Barker hustled out Stalbridge's top three to return figures of three for 17 from his seven overs, while Bartlett preceded his batting heroics by taking one for 31 with eight overs of tidy spin.

"Martin was injured for most of last season and only came back late on to play for the second team," said Miller. "For him to step up and take three wickets was a great effort.

"George is confident enough to bowl the closing overs of a game and the whole team back him, so that is going to be important for us.

"Batting-wise. George and David Guest didn't score many runs last season. I gave them the opportunity to hold onto their positions in the top order and they knew full well they had to score runs.

"So, it was great that they took responsibility when we were in a bit of trouble."

Guest ended unbeaten on 60, with 21-year-old Bartlett dismissed for 63 when his team were only 19 runs shy of their target, which they reached with 10.4 overs to spare.

The Minstermen's next three matches are against Shillingstone, Swanage and Martinstown – all teams, like Stalbridge, who finished in the bottom half last term.

As such, Miller recognises the importance of making a fast start to the campaign if his side are to retain their title.

He added: "We have what we think is a fairly easy opening month and we have to win the first four games.

"For us to comfortably chase 150, having been in some bother, was a good sign for the rest of the season. We are confident, now, that when games are tight we will end up winning them.

"But it will be a tough game at Shillingstone. It is a small ground, so it only takes one player to come off and they can put on a big score."