Poole 288-4 Martinstown 195-9 Poole (19 points) win by 93 runs.
Having been asked to bat by Martinstown the Poole innings began with a solid 56 partnership between Quinn (40) and Van Wyk (26). The single and always available Armstrong then joined the expectant father Badrul Alam and carnage ensued. With Ramadan around the corner Alam was able to tuck into the Martinstown bowling and he feasted on a number of short pitched deliveries. Armstrong too was able to show his fine array of strokeplay and the distant cousins put on 127 for the third wicket. Armstrong was first to go for an excellent 70. Alam, with one eye on his average for the season, carried his bat for a superb 108 not out. An innings that will be talked about (by Alam himself) for years to come.
Chasing an unlikely 289 to win Martinstown got off to a poor start with Damith taking the first 3 wickets with some fine swing bowling. From then on it was a case of Poole’s bowlers trying to winkle out the Martinstowns batman who dug in and attempted to gain as many batting points as possible. Desperate times need desperate measures and Quinn was called into action. However Quinn stood up to be counted and during a 2 over 36 ball spell managed to bowl the Martinstown skipper with his surprise mystery ball that was actually his first delivery to pitch on the square. Wickets then stared to fall at a steady rate but Poole were unable to grab the final bowling point and Martinstown ended with 9 men down. A special mention must go to Jay Van Wyk for some sharp work behind the stumps.
So a great start for Poole and onwards to Sherborne next Saturday!
Poole Town 289-4 (50)
Alam 108*
Armstrong 70
Read 1-33
Martinstown 195-9 (50)
Kershaw 52
Gunawardana 3-31