WEYMOUTH II 107 (12pts) tied with FERNDOWN WAYFARERS IV 107 (12pts)

WEYMOUTH Seconds maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an electrifying comeback to secure a dramatic tie with Ferndown Wayfarers Fourths at Redlands in County Division Six.

Andy Jeffreys was the star for the Seasiders, claiming a sublime 5-10 from seven overs to haul Weymouth back from the brink of defeat in a pulsating final over.

Jeffreys, standing in for regular captain Tom Reed after his call-up to the first team, had won the toss and elected to bat.

However, the Seasiders lost experienced opener Tony Quayle (0) early on to Ed Kimber (1-14) before Jack Pay (3-15) made good progress through the home order.

Pay accounted for opener Brian Keane (18), Tom England (10) and Pete Sapsworth (19) – the batsmen all making good starts before trudging back to the pavilion.

Harry Breckon (4-42) proved expensive but eventually backed up Pay’s excellent work by tearing a hole in the Seasiders’ middle order as Sahil Dalvi (18), Sam Greening (0), Kevin Tissera (4) and Ben Hunter (0) all fell victim.

Sam Tompkins (7) and Jeffreys (8) added late runs and the hosts were assisted by 23 extras in scrambling to 107 all out.

Ferndown’s chase seemed a formality with a solid start but Peter Meech (14) was first to fall when Sahil Dalvi (1-28) made the breakthrough.

Meech’s fellow opener Matthew Hobbs (33) threatened to finish the match quickly with a succession of boundaries, ably supported by Finley King (22).

However, the economical Tompkins (2-5) and Jeffreys combined to remove the pair and suddenly Weymouth were in business.

Jeffreys claimed four more wickets and Tompkins weighed in with another as the Seasiders looked set to complete an astonishing turnaround.

Wayfarers’ captain Andy McIntyre (10) resisted briefly until a poor run out left the away side with just two runs required from the final delivery.

All three results were still possible but Pay went for a seemingly impossible run as Weymouth keeper Sapsworth whipped the bails off to secure a tie.

Jeffreys’ men earned 12 points from the encounter and preserved their status at the top of the league.

However, the Seasiders then saw their top-of-the-table clash with Lytchett fall victim to the inclement weather as both sides claimed five points from the cancellation.

Winton Thirds managed to beat Poole Fourths in the only game played in County Division Six, ending their winless start to the season.

Weymouth next host Bournemouth Fifths on Saturday (1.30pm) with a 15-point gap to Lytchett, who have a game in hand, in second.