Blandford skipper Alex White watched Raj Naik put his men to the sword and then hailed the Parley star as the best batsman in the Dorset Premier League.

Vastly-experienced Naik, who made his Minor Counties debut this summer, struck a fine century to dig Parley out of a hole and continue their perfect start at the top of the division.

It could have been a different story, though, after the title favourites had been reduced to 26 for four batting first.

But White was left to rue his team’s early surge when Naik and Roshan Embalagama arrived at the crease and swung the game in Parley’s favour, leading them to 248, before Blandford were dismissed for 168.

“We started really well – almost too well,” said White.

“Raj turned it on really. It (our good start) was a bad thing – because we got him in so early!

“I would say he probably is the best batsman in the league – I’m not afraid to say that. His averages over the years prove it. You can look at the stats and they will say the same thing.”

After Naik (108) and Embalagama (70) had put on 151 for the fifth wicket, Blandford were set the task of scoring five an over to inflict a first defeat of the season on the hosts.

But despite Luke Carter’s knock of 60, they fell well short, with Naik (2-20) completing his memorable day by claiming the final Blandford wicket in the 46th over.

Jack Rowett returned superb figures of three for nine, with Alex Nippard (2-27) and Matt Stickland (2-47) also in the action.

• Martin Ford and Richard Armstrong claimed three wickets apiece as second-placed Poole Town maintained their unbeaten record with a 36-run win over Marnhull.

The hosts lost the toss and were put into bat on a difficult Poole Park wicket. They slumped to 33 for three before Kristian Wilson (37), Badrul Alam (23), Dave Miller (33) and Jamie Bennett (24) steadied the ship and guided the title hopefuls to 183 for eight in 50 overs.

The Marnhull reply got off to a solid start, with Simon Hasted (42), Andy Binnington (17) and Andy Booth (21) laying firm foundations.

But there were no other significant partnerships or scores as Poole secured their fifth win of the campaign.

Ford (3-20), Armstrong (3-31), Steve Wilson (2-28) and Kristian Wilson (2-34) were Poole’s wicket-takers.

• Joe Manley – Broadstone’s 14-year-old off-spinner – helped his team hammer Weymouth by seven wickets.

The schoolboy claimed a highly impressive four for 14 off 9.2 overs as Weymouth were knocked over for just 128. Mike Holm (2-20) and Steve Trembath (3-32) also did damage.

And despite losing Lee Hanratty early, Broadstone consolidated and a partnership of 80 between Matt Thomas (59) and Jon Powell (36*) saw them home in 36 overs.

• Struggling Wimborne and Colehill are still winless and bottom of the table after a three-wicket defeat at the hands of Ferndown Wayfarers.

Rob Hatchard’s unbeaten 62 helped the strugglers to 209 for seven, but Wayfarers skipper Neil Sexton followed his two wickets with a score of 43 to help his side reach the target in the 50th over.