CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 296-7 (20pts) beat ROYAL CHALLENGERS SPORTS 176 (8pts) by 120 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds secured the County Division Four title with a 120-run victory over Royal Challengers Sports.

Second-placed Bere Regis Seconds – the only team capable of catching the Foxes – fell foul of the weather to extinguish their hopes of the silverware.

Sam Good batted first but lost Sam Challis (0) to his first ball. There was to be no collapse though as Wes Lewis and Toby Hall steadied the ship and put on well over 100 for the second wicket.

Lewis struck 12 boundaries and three maximums in his 88 whilst Hall slotted coolly through the covers on many occasions, also notching 12 fours but just the one maximum in his 81.

With them both back in the pavilion, Leo Gurd took up the mantle, passing 50 for the third time this season, accompanied by his captain he took the home team beyond 200.

Gurd eventually fell for 55 and Good 42 as the Foxes posted an impressive 296-7 from their 40 overs.

READ MORE: Foxes seal promotion with two games to spare

In reply, Joe Etherington (2-36) and Ethan Robertson (2-30) bowled well with the new ball and took early wickets. Challis (3-30) then came on and ripped through the middle order claiming three wickets in just four overs.

Wickets from Robin Jones (1-34) and Good (1-29) helped the Foxes wrap up victory and claim the title.

Good said: “Going into the game we knew there were a couple different scenarios that could see us claim the title but we tried not to think about that and just concentrate on winning the game and getting 20 points.

“Wes and Toby played superbly after that early wicket, Leo did also and to post almost 300 it was a really top effort.

“We took wickets early and throughout but have struggled to bowl teams out (this season), but all the bowlers did really well to stick to it and claim full bowling points. To claim another promotion/title with this group of players is really special, it’s been a top effort from all the lads.”

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 160 (3pts) lost to WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 343-1 (20pts) by 179 runs (DLS method)

LEWIS Freak blasted an incredible 203 not out as Cattistock & Symene came out on the wrong side of a run fest.

The Foxes won the toss and elected to bowl first, the batters attacking from ball one as a run out opportunity and miscued shots fell out of reach.

The game settled down after the first five overs but the run rate was above 10 by this point. George Wyrill had one opener sewn up at his end with a brilliant display of new ball bowling, whilst at the other end, Bradley Damen rotated his bowlers, looking to make the breakthrough as Freak got into his stride.

Wyrill (0-38) finished his spell wicketless and Liam Toohill struck in the 20th over, Adam Child (23) caught at first slip by Brad Mullins, diving low to his right and pulling off a one-handed catch.

What followed was a brilliant batting display from Freak, now joined by James Miller. No matter where the bowlers bowled or where the fielders were placed the batters backed themselves to hit the gap or clear the fence.

Freak offered just one more chance late on in his innings, Damian Barnard unlucky to have him dropped in the deep off his bowling.

The visitors eventually finished on 343-1 with Miller 93 not out and Freak on a stupendous 203 not out from 142 balls, including 26 fours and seven sixes.

In reply, the Foxes lost Toohill (4), Luke King (7) and Billy Wallbridge (4) early on.

Mullins was joined by Reuben Kingston and things started to improve for the home team. The pair put on 67 for the fourth wicket, Kingston (11) was the man to fall, run out attempting to steal a cheeky single when the wicket keeper fumbled the ball.

Two more wickets fell shortly after as Mullins (35) and Ollie Legg (4) perished.

Good knocks from Jason Bradley (29), Oliver Nicholas (9) and Wyrill (17) saw the Foxes up to 160 when the final wicket was taken.

Home captain Brad Damen said: “Not really much you can say about that, that was a hell of a knock from their opener.

“Our bowlers and fielders stuck to the task well despite the ball flying to all parts.

“We’ve only cleared 200 with the bat twice this year so 300-plus was a tall ask. We lost wickets in groups of three which didn’t help us. A couple more partnerships would’ve seen us up to full batting points. We go into the final week looking to get the victory and keep us out of that bottom spot.”

Elsewhere, Cattistock & Symene Thirds travelled to Blandford in County Division Five North & West and posted a score of 146-9 thanks to Ben Elliot (32), Louis Partridge (29), Justin Gurd (21) and Ollie Boxall (26).

In reply, the home team lost just three wickets chasing their target, Ollie James (2-19) and Gurd (1-37) picking up the wickets.