Match report: Bashley CC were at 140-3 when the rain came down and ended their Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) Premier Division match against Bournemouth CC

Bashley (Rydal) were doing well at 140-3 against Bournemouth on a damp wicket on Saturday, but the rain came down heavily enough for the umpire to call the SPCL Premier Division game off.

On a day suited to fielding first, Bournemouth captain Luke Webb called the coin toss well and immediately put Bashley (Rydal) in to bat first.

On a wicket that was always going to deliver a low score, the New Forest side did well to reach 140 runs at the cost of just three wickets with 42.2 overs played before the umpire sent the players inside for the final time.

Will Tripcony (15) was the first Bashley player dismissed with 18 runs on the board when wicketkeeper Ben Rogers caught him behind off the bowling of Shaun Fouche (1-32) before, six balls later with no runs added, Ethan Baker (3) joined him.

Baker’s dismissal by lbw brought Jack Stearman (36) and the in-form Jacob Gordon (53 not out) together as the third-wicket partnership. Together, the duo fired off nine boundaries in a patient knock, inching their way to an 88-run partnership.

After facing 73 balls, Stearman was finally out lbw to Ashley Smith (1-10), and that would be the final wicket of the day, with Gordon and the returning captain, Michael Porter (21 not out) 34 runs into their partnership before the rain ended the action.

The league leaders return to action away from home against third-placed St Cross Symondians in a timed 120-overs match at 11am.