Cattistock & Symene beat Christchurch by 72 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene earned a long overdue first Dorset Premier League win of the season, comfortably beating Christchurch by 72 runs.

With a cloudless sky and a dusty surface, Foxes captain Steve Tucker won the toss batted.

The hosts began speedily thanks to some wayward bowling from Christchurch early on and some lovely strokeplay from opener Luke King.

Despite this, wickets started to fall and it was not until the captain himself joined King at the crease that runs began to flow once again.

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Tucker (21) was dismissed by Nick Marsh (2-34) with the score at 114-4. This triggered a small collapse including the key loss of King (52) who had played a perfect opener's knock containing six boundaries.

From 131-7, the Foxes' tail wagged with Ollie Legg (38), George Wyrill (22no) and Joe Etherington (18no) ensuring the home side collected full batting points and a competitive total of 228-9.

In response, Christchurch lost key early wickets thanks to the tight bowling of Brad Mullins and Wyrill (2-19).

Smart fielding and the introduction of spinner Legg (3-43) and King (1-36) helped the home side keep control of the game, despite 35 from Thomas Hughes and 27 in 14 balls from Liam Bowater.

And it was left to opening bowler Mullins (4-17), who returned to take the final two wickets and complete a well deserved win for the Foxes.

"It feels great to get that win. It was a very hot day out there so full credit to the lads for keeping their concentration. Kinger batted brilliantly to set us up for a good score and the runs down the order show we have the ability to bat deep."

"We felt that 228 was around a par score, so it was important to start well with the ball.

"Brad in particular bowled with pace and accuracy throughout. Our fielding was the best I have seen this season, some great stops and catches which made a big impact.

"We have said all along we are not in this league to make up the numbers.

"We are now close to a couple of teams above us and on the hunt to keep that winning feeling."

*The Foxes then lost by eight runs to Poole, earning 11 points.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 307-6 (22pts) beat BROADSTONE II 145 (6pts) by 162 runs

SAM Good and Harry Angel became the fourth and fifth players to enter Cattistock & Symene’s ton-up club this season in helping the seconds to a comprehensive 162-run victory over Broadstone Seconds in County Division Three.

Captain Reuben Kingston had no hesitation in electing to bat given the conditions and after his dismissal for 22 had the luxury of sitting back to enjoy another run-fest as his batters made hay on a perfect day for batting.

With the visitors’ bowling toiling in the heat, Good was dropped three times on the boundary but capitalised to hammer a trademark 109 containing eight maximums, before falling to Alex Warren (3-69).

The more watchful Angel compiled a measured unbeaten 110 full of deft touches and the pair added 152 for the third wicket to set Broadstone a mammoth 308 target.

After tea Rob Jones (2-14) and Sam Challis (3-13) made early inroads to snuff out any possibility of an unlikely win despite the veteran Ed Halson being summoned from retirement to add a late 24 runs to Broadstone’s cause.

Kingston said: “That was special from Goody and ‘Pup’ and I hope we continue to press on for promotion."

*Kingston's men then lost to Martinstown Seconds by seven wickets

LYTCHETT 101-6 (19pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 98 (4pts) by four wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Thirds gave high-flying Lytchett a scare but fell to a four-wicket defeat in County Division Six despite making an encouraging start.

Captain Leo Gurd (20) laid a solid foundation but, after his dismissal, an outstanding second-wicket partnership of 49 between Justin Gurd (10) and Lloyd Cleal (39) took the visitors to 74-2 when Justin Gurd was bowled.

All hopes of building a match-winning total perished at the hands of Lytchett’s Steve Hayman who ran through the rest of the line-up, plundering 7-9 to bundle out the visitors by the 27th over; the last eight wickets adding only 24 runs.

In reply, Lytchett were coasting to an easy victory with an opening 57-run partnership until the introduction of the wily veteran bowler Graham Bartlett stalled proceedings.

Bartlett deployed all his variety of deliveries to bamboozle Tom Philips (28), James Woan (28) and Tom Macleod (0) to peg back the hosts to 62-3.

But a resolute 20 not out by Jay Parker calmed matters even when the return of Bartlett (5-23) triggered another flurry of wickets in which three wickets fell with the score on 95 to have the visitors scenting an improbable victory until Parker hit the winning runs in the 25th over.