Bridport footballer Luke King hits century for Cattistock & Symene

King, who has returned to cricket following the football season, was in majestic form with the bat as he smashed 13 boundaries and four maximums in his 78-ball innings.

Earlier, the County Division Four clash began with the Foxes inviting the league leaders to bat.

Joe Etherington (0-15) and Robin Jones (2-37) made the opening pair work hard for their runs and Cattistock & Symene were in full control despite Paul Smith (31) and Cian Evans (42) keeping their wickets intact.

Foxes’ captain Sam Good made a bowling change and the breakthrough finally came for James Boulton (3-36) in the 26th over with Bere Regis 83-1.

George Wyrill got in on the action and removed the next three, posting impressive figures of 3-30. The middle and lower order fell in quick succession with the away side posting 156-8 in their 40 overs.

READ MORE: Foxes hounded by Martinstown

In reply, Wes Lewis and King arrived at the crease together for the first time this season. Punishing every bad ball that came his way, King struck a flurry of shots to reach a quickfire 50 and, along with Lewis, the Foxes were propelled to 83 from just eight overs.

Lewis finally fell for 20 trying to lift the ball over mid-off with the home side 92-1 off just 15.

Leo Gurd (24no) stepped in and provided stability for King (100no) to hit the winning boundary, bringing up his maiden century in style and taking his team to an emphatic nine-wicket victory.

Captain Sam Good said: “The result makes it look like we dominated but we had to work really hard, they got to 83 without loss and could’ve really racked up the runs in the last 15 overs, it was a brilliant fightback to restrict them to 156, James and George bowled brilliantly.

“Luke was just on it from ball one, it was one of the best innings I’ve seen, he sent the ball to all parts of the ground. It was great that he was able to clinch the winning runs and his century in the same ball, he fully deserved it.”

Steve Tucker smashed a six into Sherborne Tennis Club Picture: LIAM TOOHILL

SHERBORNE 202-9 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 137 (6pts) by 65 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene sustained a 65-run loss against a strong Sherborne side in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier League.

Despite losing the toss and fielding first, Ethan Robertson, on his Foxes first-team debut, struck with his very first ball, knocking back the off stump to remove Luke Handcock (0). 

He then struck again, with the final ball of the second over, having Marc Lock (0) caught behind to peg the hosts back at 10-2. 

Sherborne captain and former Somerset Seconds man Josh Lawrence held firm and kept the runs flowing. 

The third-wicket partnership had surpassed 50 when Sam Baker (2-30) had Mike Kennedy (17) caught in the gully. 

Liam Toohill (2-21) then bowled the dangerous Lawrence (35) and Baker (2-30) claimed another wicket before finishing his spell, re-introducing Robertson. 

The debutant picked up two further wickets which pushed the hosts to 126-7 and left him with impressive figures of 4-47. 

Shane Pulling (41) and Andy Nurton (27) frustrated the Foxes bowlers and began to work their way through the batting bonus points, Pulling eventually dismissed for 41 thanks to a smart catch behind the stumps from Steve Tucker off Toohill. 

Bradley Damen (1-63) got the ninth wicket in the final over but the Foxes were unable to bowl the home team out or stop them passing 200.

The Foxes innings got off to a steady start before Baker (9), Ben Golledge (8) and Toohill (4) all fell in the space of 12 balls to leave them 31-3. 

Ollie Legg and Steve Tucker recovered well, the latter lifting a huge six into the tennis courts. 

However, the fifth wicket fell when Tucker was dismissed for 34, further middle order runs came from debutant Reuben Kingston (29) and Jason Bradley (20). 

Although with overs running out, wickets continued to fall and the Foxes were all out for 137.

Captain Bradley Damen said: "I was really pleased with our bowling and fielding effort, the conditions were tough, it was very hot and everyone stuck to task really well. 

"Ethan bowled brilliantly and we did really well to take wickets throughout. That eighth wicket partnership took the game away from us a bit, they probably got about 30 more than they should’ve and gave them the momentum going into the second innings. 

"With our batting we lost wickets in clumps again. Steve, Reuben and Jason batted well in the middle order but we just couldn’t get the partnerships going."

Finally, Cattistock & Symene Thirds hosted Bradford Abbas at Symene, the visitors batting first and racking up a mammoth 249.

Despite the score there were plenty of positives for Graham Bartlett’s team. Damian Barnard took an impressive 5-26 off seven overs, with two maidens.

Along with wickets from Lloyd Cleal (1-2), Louis Partridge (1-37) and Justin Gurd (1-5) plus a run out they were able to bowl out a 10-man Bradford Abbas team.

In reply, the hosts did not fare well as Jake Williams (5-14) tore through their line-up with only debutants George Crabb (11) and Ollie Boxall (15) reaching double figures as the Foxes were bowled out for 65.

n See bridportnews.co.uk/sport for first and third-team reports