More sides sign up for county town’s T20 league

By Robin Potter

The Dorchester and District T20 Cricket League have now finalised the set-up for the 2023 competitions. Dorchester Casuals and Plush have added sides so there will be 20 teams across three divisions.

Casuals are expected to be strong contenders to stop Puddletown achieving a hat-trick of league titles and repeating last year’s cup and league double.

Hazelbury Bryan, Cattistock and Symene, Martinstown, Charlton Down and St Georges are also likely to feature strongly.

Frampton and Bere Regis will be keen to consolidate their promotion to Division 2, with Abbotsbury, Cerne Valley, Dewlish, Plush and Puddletown Seconds in opposition. New Look/ASM and Puddletown RFC, along with the second or third strings from Plush, Charlton Down,

Casuals and Plush will be aiming for promotion from Division 3, while showing how clubs are keen to support cricketers of all abilities. Fixtures run from the last week in April through to the end of July, with some rearrangements undoubtedly spilling over into August unless the weather is kind as last year’s. All matches will start at 6.30pm and full details can be found on the league’s Play-Cricket site.

By Stuart Wickham stuart@westdorsetmag.co.uk

Beaminster First XI captain Chris Park has been talking to the West Dorset Magazine, to reflect on his championship-winning start as skipper, preparations for the coming season, the trouble with cricketing neighbours and, of course, his new nickname.

Former Dorset county player Chris – now affectionately known as “Jim” since my blooper in getting his name wrong last summer – is excited about what 2023 has in store and is not underestimating the challenge as his charges seek to adapt to a higher standard.

“You can call me Jim, everybody does now! The team have been having lots of fun with it on WhatsApp and it’s really stuck. I’m not worried about it, we love the banter and it’s been very good for team spirit. I imagine they’ll be a few opposition players calling me that too as we get into the season.”

Beaminster won a closely-fought battle for the Division Two title in 2022, edging out Chalke Valley in a nail-biting finale to win the championship by just two points.

Jim said: “There is part of me that thinks I should retire after last year. Quit while I’m ahead! We didn’t really expect to get promoted last season, let alone be the champions. Chalke Valley had a very strong side but we won