SHERBORNE 211-7 (18pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 210-6 (8pts) by three wickets

NEWLY-FORMED Cattistock & Symene are still searching for their first win of the Dorset ‘Thank You NHS’ League Division One season after a three-wicket defeat at Sherborne.

Cattistock captain Bradley Damen won the toss and elected to bat first on what was a boiling afternoon.

Last week’s top scorer Ben Golledge (2) fell early on before Sam Baker and Jon Legg set about building an innings.

The duo found it hard to score freely but did well to keep the scoreboard ticking, taking the score past 100. Both men passed 50 when the second wicket fell, Legg (59) smartly caught and bowled by Emlyn Kuhn (1-34).

Baker (66) and then Steve Tucker (3) fell shortly after at 156-4 before Billy Wallbridge came to the crease and upped the run rate by running hard between the wickets and hitting the bad ball to the boundary.

Liam Toohill fell for 27 before Damen (8no) and Wallbridge (29no) took the score to 210-6 after 40 overs, the wily Andrew Nurton claiming 3-44.

Cattistock had achieved a defendable total but needed a tight bowling and fielding performance.

Bradley Mullins (1-38) struck early in the hosts’ reply to remove Charlie Taylor (6) and then Ollie Legg (3-27) picked up three wickets to leave the hosts at 77-4 with captain Marc Lock still holding firm.

Jack Handford (1-32) then took the next wicket at 110-5, a smart running catch from Baker in the deep.

An 85-run partnership then followed as Lock passed 50, taking Sherborne to within 16 runs of victory before Baker (2-43) struck twice to leave them requiring 13 for victory from the final over.

Damen stepped up but it was his opposite number who would have the glory, Lock (80no) hitting the required runs from four balls to take his team to victory.

Post-match, Damen said: “We found it hard to score freely during our innings, Sam and Leggy did well to lay us a platform but we weren’t able to push on in the closing overs as much as we would’ve liked to.

“We were probably a few runs short. It was a hot day and there were times when the ball was flying to the boundary, but the lads stuck to the task well.

“Ollie bowled brilliantly and then Jack picked up a vital wicket when we needed a breakthrough.

“It’s always disappointing to come out on the wrong end of a last-over finish but we probably bowled a few too many extras to let them get into that situation. There are still plenty of positives to take into our next game.”

Cattistock and Symene host Portland Red Triangle on Saturday (1.30pm).