DORCHESTER were surprised by Blandford in a low-scoring affair at Blandford Forum Rec.

Third-placed Dorch won the toss and elected to field, so they would have felt slightly disappointed neither of their opening pair of bowlers took a wicket.

Stuart Robbins (32) and Luke Carter (26) put on 60 for the first wicket before Krishnan Subramanian (2-10 off 10 overs) bowled the former, Jonathan Legg (2-26 off 10) getting the latter caught by Simon Mitchem.

James Woodruff got to 18 before he was run out, then it was down to ‘keeper Gus Mitchell (23) and Saul Rimmer (15) to get Blandford to a respectable score.

Mitchem took 3-37 to wrap up the tail for 139 inside 49 overs.

In reply, Legg and Jamie Barrett put on 41 for the first wicket. Dan Belt, at number four, top scored with 43, but once he was bowled by Mike Shepherd (2-19 off six), Dorch fizzled out with a pair of middle-order ducks, Gautham Rajendar and Harry Jones the guilty couple.

Mitchem cemented his spot as Dorch’s man of the match, but in a losing cause as his 13 was more than the bottom four got between them. Even with 19 extras, including 14 wides, Blandford got away with the home win.

Rob Harding (3-26) and Aaron Day (3-23) the star bowlers as no Blandford bowler had a finishing economy rate of over four an over.