SHERBORNE 223-5 (20pts) beat ST GEORGE'S 126 (5pts) by 97 runs

ST GEORGE’S' hopes of a second Sunday Division One title were effectively ended when they were comprehensively beaten at home by Sherborne.

The visitors batted first but lost a wicket from the first ball of the match when Dave Barnstaple hit a full toss to Matt King at mid-on.

His fellow opener Tom Harris showed him how it should be done, striking his first ball over long-on for six.

Harris continued to bat aggressively and, scoring almost exclusively on the leg side, recorded a boundary-laden 46 before dragging on a Santosh Nair delivery from outside off stump.

The home side managed to keep the scoring rate down to a reasonable level for most of the innings but were made to pay for twice dropping Marc Lock.

He dominated an unbroken century stand for the sixth wicket and rapidly accelerated the run rate in the closing overs.

Several sixes were struck towards the Sawmills site as Lock finished unbeaten on 97 and the Sherborne innings closed on 223-5.

Any hopes the home side had of completing a successful run chase were dashed by Tim Durston’s opening spell as the hosts were reduced to 24-4.

Crispin Brown provided the only real resistance, striking several meaty blows before he was bowled just short of a maiden half-century.

The hosts’ batting again showed its depth with number 11 Nair striking a six over long-on, but when he was caught on the boundary attempting to repeat the feat the match was over with Sherborne running out emphatic winners.