CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 130 (4pts) lost to DORCHESTER 131-4 (20pts) by six wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene’s winless Dorset Premier League run continued after a six-wicket loss to champions Dorchester.

However, the four points picked up by the Foxes was enough to lift them off the foot of the table following Puddletown’s defeat at Bere Regis, in which they claimed only two points.

Cattistock & Symene won the toss and chose to bat, only for Wes Lewis (11) to fall lbw to away skipper Dan Belt (4-49).

Jason Bradley (8) and Luke King (35) shared 37, with King hitting six boundaries in his knock, until both men were stumped by the sharp hands of Jim Ryall off Billy Baker (1-5) and Rob Nobbs respectively.

READ MORE: Foxes reflect on mixed fortunes 

After losing both set batters, the Foxes briefly recovered through Ollie Nicholas (22) and Brad Mullins (15) but Nobbs (3-32) accounted for the duo to leave the hosts on 106-5.

Dorchester then rattled through the Foxes’ tail as Belt returned to complete his four-for and left-arm spinner Jon Legg weighed in with 2-19 to help bowl his former club out for 130.

In reply, Dorchester cantered to 60-0 as Jim Ryall steamed along by the time Simon Mitchem (13) nicked Mullins (2-38) behind to wicketkeeper Steve Tucker.

His wicket sparked a wobble for Dorchester to 68-3 as Ryall (41), who hit seven boundaries in his 31-ball knock, was dismissed by Ollie Legg (1-27) and Gautham Rajendar (6) edged Mullins to Tucker.

It took a sensible stand of 51 after tea from Mike Peak (26) and Eral Anderson (28no) to break the back of the chase.

Although Peak perished, bowled by Ethan Robertson (1-25), Dorchester were just 12 runs from home as Anderson and Legg (4no) guided the visitors home.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 171 (20pts) beat CERNE VALLEY 145 (8pts) by 26 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds notched a vital win in County Division Three to keep their title aspirations alive by defeating previously unbeaten leaders Cerne Valley by 26 runs.

With three recent century makers available, captain Reuben Kingston eyed a big score but again the hosts lost an early wicket to another disastrous run-out call from Kingston to leave Sam Challis stranded in the middle of the pitch for 14.

Toby Hall departed soon after for 19 and Liam Toohill notched a classy 45 but it was Luke Robertson who for the second successive week cemented a competitive total with a priceless 57, although watching helplessly from the other end as the last five wickets fell for just seven runs five overs from time.

After tea, Bradley Wilkinson soon removed Russ Hurford without scoring on his way to a typically economical 2-28 return.

John Stiles and Dan Tate put on a worrying 50-run partnership for the second wicket but then the Symondsbury run-out curse struck again when a direct hit from Graham Bartlett removed Stiles for 39.

This opened the floodgates and spin twins Joe Etherington (2-21) and Bartlett (2-47) ran through the tail. Etherington’s flipper accounted for Cerne’s Matt Longley for a defiant 21 as the visitors were dismissed 26 runs short.

PARLEY IV 189 (8pts) lost to CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 243-6 (20pts) by 54 runs

A MAGNIFICENT innings of 159 by captain Leo Gurd set the Foxes’ third team on their way to a third-successive victory in County Division Six, this time by 54 runs.

Coming in at the fall of the first wicket in the second over to join Ollie James, Gurd ensured that Parley were put to the sword in blistering manner.

James himself contributed an excellent 37 in a second-wicket partnership that took the score past three figures and then George Crabb made an undefeated 18.

Gurd was finally dismissed bowled by Robert Franks to set Parley a daunting 243 target, Franks ending with 3-65.

In reply, Parley got the run-chase going purposefully with Chris Smith (35) and Avanish Reshamwala (39) both living dangerously until James pinned back both openers’ stumps on his way to a 2-34 return.

Jade Wilkinson celebrated her 18th birthday with another useful spell to chip in with 2-36 and when Jake Hart bagged three late wickets to return 3-11 to see off any lingering resistance, the visitors cantered home to victory with plenty to spare.

This result moves Gurd’s team up to a highly creditable fourth place and the team is brimming with confidence for the games ahead.