CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 166-8 (19pts) beat SYMENE SPORTS 140 (7pts) by 26 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene beat former clubmates Symene Sports by 26 runs in County Division Three.

In the first match between the sides since Sports, a breakaway club, formed in the winter, Cattistock batted first and weathered tight opening bowling spells from Rob Jones (1-20) and Bradley Wilkinson (0-18).

The Foxes registered a 92-run opening stand to set the platform for the innings. Luke King eventually made the breakthrough to dismiss Oliver Nicholas for a patient 28 in the 27th over.

Jason Bradley followed soon afterwards for a classy 41 at the hands of Sam Challis, who then ran amok with his brisk left-arm pace to return figures of 6-36 and drag Symene right back into the game.

READ MORE: Symene Sports skittle Kingston Lacy for 24

Home skipper Steven Tucker contributed a vital unbeaten 30, shepherding the tail to a more respectable 166-8 to prevent the hosts squandering their fine start.

After tea, Wes Lewis (38) and Luke King (8) were quickly out of the blocks to race to 54-1 off just four overs but both then fell to Bradley Mullins, Lewis having struck four boundaries and three sixes.

Thereafter, the Symene innings stalled with a succession of batters unable to form partnerships.

James Nicholas (2-44) returned impressively from his initial mauling to bag the pivotal wicket of Challis for 28 and Reuben Kingston concentrated admirably to contribute a defiant 12 which very nearly saw Symene over the line but it was not to be.

SYMENE SPORTS II 210-8 (17pts) beat CHARLTON DOWN II 209-5 (9pts) by two wickets

THIS thrilling Division Six West game was decided right at the death as Symene Seconds’ number nine batter Sam Hart scampered a single off the very last ball of the match to secure the win.

Charlton Down batted first but Jake Jobson and Lucas Richards made immediate breakthroughs to reduce them to 5-2.

Jobson exerted further pressure on the visitors, conceding just 17 runs from his full spell. The visitors were indebted to opener Roger Frapwell’s 46 and Simon Dunford’s superb 94 forming a third-wicket stand of 120.

The partnership was broken when Frapwell fell to a diving catch from wicketkeeper Phil Hawkins off Orran Maudsley.

Jon Kay’s unbeaten 30 helped the visitors to 209-5 as Symene used eight bowlers to break through to the tailenders.

In reply, opener Justin Gurd’s fine 39 got Symene off to the ideal start with Richards (18) and Maudsley (36) maintaining the momentum.

Luke Robertson blasted a trademark 30 and Jobson made a vital 36 to keep Symene in the hunt but Down kept plugging away by taking wickets, Pete Tucker with 3-26, as the match ebbed and flowed.

However, Hart’s heroics saw Symene home and hosed, moving up to third in the table.