REIGNING champions Parley made a winning start to the Dorset Saturday Premier Division season – but captain Neil Summerson admitted his men made “hard work of it”.

Raj Naik, with the ball, and batsmen Roshan Embalagama and Mark Elliott did the business as the top-flight big guns defeated Stalbridge by two wickets.

Put in to bat first, Stalbridge got off to a slow start before eventually reaching 182 all out off their 50 overs. Experienced all-rounder Naik (4-28) led the way, with Kieran Price (2-22) and Summerson (2-41) also returning decent figures.

Parley got off to a flying start in response, with a run rate of more than five an over, but they required help from the lower order to get over the line.

A partnership of 60 between Embalagama, who smashed 52 not out which included three sixes, and Tom Blackley (17*) proved key and saw them home. Earlier, Elliott had helped lay the foundations with an innings of 38.

Summerson, 23, said: “I was waiting to come in at number 11 – and I was pretty nervous!”

• Captain Jamie Thomas and former skipper Dave Miller were both on form as last season’s runners-up Poole Town made a confident start to the campaign.

Poole (237-5) beat Weymouth (203) by 34 runs after producing a good all-round display.

Miller (59*) top-scored in the batting effort, with Laurie Whyte (3-38) the pick of the Weymouth attack.

In reply, Ben Lawes struck an unbeaten 59 but Poole claimed victory thanks largely to the efforts of Martin Ford (1-16) and Thomas (3-40).

• Broadstone turned in a dominant performance to hammer Wimborne and Colehill by eight wickets. Mike Holm (4-24) and Matt Spraggs (3-33) starred with the ball, but Ben Ratcliffe’s 65 ensured Wimborne posted 153.

However, Broadstone made short work of that as they reached the victory target for the loss of two wickets off just 29 overs. Matt Thomas was the star turn as he hit an unbeaten 87, with Lee Hanratty (44) providing solid support.

• Ferndown Wayfarers – formed during the close-season after a merger between Ferndown CC and Wayfarers CC – marked the start of their new era with a narrow defeat.

Robbie Stammas and Dean Elmsworthy took three wickets apiece and Lee Dunham struck 70, but the Dolmans Farm outfit lost by five runs on a reduced target at Marnhull.

• The game between Blandford and Dorchester was called off due to a rain-affected ground.