Cheselbourne Cricket Club

08/08/2026

Village News 🏏
Well we are nothing if not consistent (spoiler alert) as our losing run continues uninterrupted but we battle on!

On 20th June we made the journey to Kings Park in Boscombe to play regular rivals, Lytchett. Batting first, we reached 180 all out using all but three balls of our 40 overs. None of our batters really got going with captain, Dave Staddon (36), and your correspondent (31) top scorers (always bad news). Special mention to Kallum Brant with a rapid 21 batting at number 10 having made the trip up from Cornwall. However, on a very dry pitch 180 was unlikely to be enough unless we could really get amongst the wickets. So it proved with Lytchett's top order confidently reaching their target in the 23rd over.
The heat continued the following Saturday, away at the rather more picturesque and peaceful Swanage ground.
Winning the toss, Swanage elected to bat first and despite some excellent Cheselbourne bowling the openers dug in with the first wicket falling at 101.
Wickets then fell more regularly as our opponents reached 216-6 which on a fast outfield gave us some hope despite the exhaustion of fielding during the scorching aftemoon. Sadly we never really got going and despite 42 from Mike Chapple and 35 from Dave Collier we fell 58 runs short. Mention in despatches for Robin Brant with 19 runs, attempting (but failing) to outdo his son's performance the week before.

The less said about the following Saturday away at Flying Eagles the better. Suffice to say we were demolished by a team that should be further up the cricketing pyramid.

Back home on Saturday 11th July, we hosted Portland 2, much more on our level than the previous week's opponents. Batting first, a relief given the heat, it looked like being a classic Cheselboume implosion at 44-4. Cometh the hour, cometh the men, with Mike Chapple (60) and Andy Smith (48) digging in to help us to a respectable total of 229-9. Shout out to Charlie Eastment with a rapid 28 and showing a level of skill and confidence that will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season. Opening bowlers, Chris Ascott and Dave Staddon, did an excellent job in restricting Portland's opening batters scoring rate which at the over over halfway stage imposed significant scoreboard pressure. After the midpoint the strike rate increased despite our best efforts. With the Portland captain again proving our nemesis, as he had done in the reverse fixture, they passed our score with five balls to spare. Despite a defeat there were many positives, with a solid mid order batting performance, Charlie's feats with both bat and ball, a disciplined bowling display, the emergence of Alfie Watson adding promising bowling to his already outstanding fielding efforts, and the addition of two father and son combos to the squad.
Special mention to club Chair Andy Smith who in addition to all his other duties, batted for 30 overs, bowled 8 overs and got struck on most parts of his body (he now has a comedy toe. A true man of the match performance.

Off the field we welcome match ball sponsors (£20 and your name on our board) and new cricketers.
Just contact [email protected] or speak to one of the team.

Thank you to our most recent sponsors, Brewery Farm Shop and

Strategic rural tourism and leisure consultancy

06/08/2026

**STOP PRESS**

Cheselbourne Cricket Club have finally won, not just that but by 19 runs after scoring 261-6 against high flying Royal Challengers on Saturday 1st August. A really tense game with excellent performances across the team. See the scorecard here:-

https://cheselbourne.play-cricket.com/website/results/7374134

Full round up in the monthly report.

Meanwhile thank you to our latest local match ball sponsors, CJ’s Mechanics and Ernest G Hart Ltd.

Looking for back to back victories for the first time in a while and its away to Alderholt Cricket Ground and Verwood 3rds we go! 1300 - Saturday 8th August.

06/08/2026

For those that don't read the village news and want to catch up!

Another tough month for your local cricket team, with weather and strong opposition taking their toll, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
First up was Buckhorn Weston, a village club on its way up through the divisions with facilities the like of which we dream of, even a solar mower! A grey damp day was not conducive to summer cricket, and batting first we reached a reasonable 178-8 in our 40 overs, the highlights being an excellent 84 not out from opener Chris Ascott and a rapid 23 from Dave Collier whose bat was not intimidated by the long boundaries. The look on our opponents faces gave away the fact that this was not seen as anything of a problem and so it proved with a rapid attack on our bowlers, reaching their target inside 28 overs. Dave ensured his (Cheselbourne) man of the match performance with 2 wickets from his six overs.
At home the following week visitors Poole 4 looked a good deal better than fourth team status would suggest and so it proved. Batting first Poole threw everything at each of our bowlers to reach an imposing total of 320-3. The positive from our reply was that we did bat out our 40 overs but in scoring 179-6 we fell well short. Big thanks to our debut visiting players, especially Harry Wilmot with 2 wickets and 71 runs.

The last Saturday in May saw us at the former St Leonards Hospital cricket ground, home to Royal Challengers, another team looking at promotion. A low point for us, all out for 72 with your correspondent joint top scoring (with Dave Collier), which has happened before but never in a winning cause, so the omens were not good but they were accurate with the total knocked off in just 11 overs for the loss of one wicket.

Saturday 6 June provided some respite with pouring rain across the county bringing all but one game to a halt before starting.
Summer returned for the following Saturday, at home with perfect weather with Wareham the visitors, another team we have never played before and, as it soon became apparent, with the skill and ambition to move up the leagues. Batting first we never really got going with James Woodward top scoring with an aggressive 28 contributing to 119 all out. Despite good work from our opening bowlers Wareham’s batters made the decision to take them on and whilst the ball spent a lot of time in the air it was never near our fielders. The gentler pace of our first change bowlers, Andy Smith and Robin Brant, proved more of a challenge with three wickets falling to them albeit too little too late as Wareham passed our total in the 18th over.

On a positive note the ground is looking lovely, a perfect place for village cricket, our sign is now up and functioning (after a chalk pen proved indelible) and our first match ball sponsor, Brewery Farm Shop in Ansty there for all to see and support. More sponsors would be most welcome, £20 towards the match ball, just speak to one of the team or email [email protected]

21/07/2026

Attention turns to our next game this weekend AWAY at Poole Town 4th XI - 1300 at Whitecliff Recreation Ground. Travelling support and even interest in playing, very welcome!

We are grateful to our latest match ball sponsor - CJ’s Mechanics of Cross Lanes in Melcombe Bingham - who are available for all your vehicle servicing needs. Thank you for your support.

Next HOME fixture - August 1st against Royal Challengers - see you there!

08/07/2026

It was a privilege to host the Allstars at Cheselbourne Cricket Club this week, and very special to have twinkle visit too! Dorset Cricket Cheselbourne Village School

07/07/2026

We are back at home this weekend with a huge match against Portland - 1pm start.

Still thinking about finding out more or returning to cricket? Why not come down and see what we are all about - new players and supporters are always welcome!

Thanks this week to our match ball sponsor www.theruraltourist.co.uk - supporting landowners and the farming community diversify into new tourism and leisure ventures.

18/06/2026

💥 Press release 💥

Cheselbourne Cricket Club is pleased to announce the continuation of the clubs’ association with the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust.
The charity exists to help save lives and promote well-being by raising awareness of cancer and specifically Bowel Cancer in young people, aged 18 to 40 in Dorset and UK and to support Bowel Cancer patients and their families through the provision of specialist medical equipment and financial aid.
Cheselbourne Cricket Club is hidden away in central Dorset and is probably the most ‘village’ club playing competitive cricket in the County.
Thanks to Ducks and Drakes the club has improved its visibility with the provision of a sign at the entrance to the ground for the first time in its history. With a prominent reference to Ducks and Drakes, QR codes, next match dates and a panel for match ball sponsors, visiting clubs should be in no doubt when they find the ground and more local folk may wish to support us on match days and beyond.
Cheselbourne Cricket club is always on the lookout for new players, perhaps especially those who fancy a more prominent role than they might find in the bigger urban clubs, and we would love to hear from potential match ball sponsors (just £20 for your name in lights…..of any passing car). Email us at [email protected].
Andy Smith, chair of the club said, “We are very grateful to Ducks and Drakes and proud to support this vital charity whose work is very much aimed at the age group involved in local cricket. Whilst the club exists on a shoestring we are always looking to improve both on and off the field to ensure the continuation of a cherished local amenity.”
Becky Howorth, whose brother Andrew Drake was the inspiration for the founding of Ducks and Drakes said, “We had no hesitation in funding the club board given our local association with the club, Andrews unique enjoyment of cricket, and the target audience of the charity. Sadly Andrews diagnosis came too late and our aim through Ducks and Drakes is to encourage people not to ignore symptoms or delay seeking advice.”
More information can be found at ducksanddrakescancertrust.org.uk

The photograph shows the entrance to Cheselbourne Cricket Club with from left to right, veteran player Tony Kellaway, Sam Howarth, Becky Howarth from Ducks and Drakes, and team member and close friend of Andrew Drake, Robin Brant.

18/06/2026

🏏 If you don’t receive the village news….

A friendly run out against Milborne St Andrew resulted in the traditional preseason defeat but knocked some winter rust off and allowed us to make the most of a dry and generally sunny April before the league season started in earnest on 2 May.
Our opponents, newly promoted Flying Eagles, are predicted to be the division's pacesetters and without some of our key players due to family bank holiday commitments this was going to be a testing start with a sound walloping the likely outcome. After an exceptionally dry April the forecast for Saturday afternoon was for solid rain from start time at 1pm. Normally this would be the cause of disappointment but a weather abandonment was likely to be the best result we could hope for. However, the rain gods decided to tease, and batting first with two of our better batters delayed at work, we were soon in trouble and the potential for defeat before the rain came in loomed large. Thanks partly to some determined defence and partly to the batsmen suffering an unusual number of laces coming undone and apparently intense mid-wicket discussions, we were still there at 36-6 when the rain finally arrived and washed the game out.
Away at Portland the following Saturday we had high hopes after an excellent win there last season. Portland made a solid start with the two opening batsmen reaching the halfway drinks break undamaged despite some excellent bowling. After drinks it all changed and the wickets started to fall. Portland's bizarre scorecard ended with the openers scoring 109 not out, and 13, with another contribution of 4, the other eight batsmen out for 0! Chris Ascott and Andy Smith were the stand out bowlers with four wickets each, with the excellent Robin Brant chipping in with two. Sadly our reply wasn't any better with both openers out for ducks and only Colin Searle with 32 contributing significantly as we fell 59 runs short. Yes the wicket was a difficult one with unpredictable bounce and movement but this was a significant opportunity wasted.
As ever we are looking to recruit players so please if you fancy playing for a friendly club in beautiful surroundings then email us at [email protected].

05/05/2026

🏏 This Saturday, 9th May, we are away to Portland 🏏

1pm start!

Let’s hope for some sun ☀️

If you are thinking of joining us drop us a message and pop along 😊

27/04/2026

The grass has been cut and ready for action!!

First game of the season this Saturday, 2nd May.

If you would like any information regarding joining your local club, please drop us a message or email.
All welcome!!