CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 255 (20pts) beat CHRISTCHURCH 156 (7pts) by 99 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene opened their 2023 Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League account with a fine 99-run home win over Christchurch.

Christchurch won the toss, chose to field and found Wes Lewis in excellent form again as the Foxes’ opener smashed 68 from 62 balls including 14 boundaries.

Jason Bradley (22), Ollie Nicholas (26) and Ollie Legg (38) also provided solid scores while the hosts were gifted a healthy 41 extras as they closed on 255 all out, Henry Hayes (4-49) the pick of the away attack.

In reply, Robin Jones (3-27) caused early mayhem before Neil Squire (35) and Thomas Hughes (63) put pressure back onto the Foxes.

READ MORE: Dorset beat Buckinghamshire by 95 runs

However, Legg (3-48) removed both men and thereafter the task was a formality as George Foot (3-54) claimed his first wickets for the Foxes to bowl Church out for 156.

Foxes’ wicketkeeper Steve Tucker said: “It's great to get our first win of the season. We haven't been far off in other games so were confident it was coming.

"Wes batted well at the top for us again. He had some luck but played some fantastic shots to put their bowlers on the back foot early on.

"With the ball, it was great to see Footy get his first wickets for us. He and Ollie bowled really nicely together to finish the game off for us.”

Dorchester now lie in wait on Saturday, Tucker adding: "Dorchester are one of the strongest teams in this league.

"As a team, we get excited for these big games. Last week's win has given us some confidence.

“We don't intend to be a team just making up the numbers in the Prem this year. I am expected the boys to be fired up and take the game to Dorch." 

DORCHESTER II 140-2 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 139 (4pts) by eight wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds’ batting woes were reflected in a first innings lasting just 31.4 overs at Dorchester, losing by eight wickets.

A disastrous start saw openers Joe Etherington (4) and Justin Gurd (0) back in the pavilion at 11-2 until another excellent innings from in-form Ed Maltby emphatically wrestled back the initiative.

Maltby gained fine support from Brad Wilkinson as the two amassed a 63-run partnership but the former was eventually dismissed by Dileep Kumar for 49.

The patient Wilkinson (11) showed fighting spirit defending his wicket as a succession of teammates succumbed at the other end before he was dismissed by Tom Kinsey.

Outstanding Kinsey (6-33) then ran amok through the tail to help bowl the Foxes out for 139.

After tea, Ben Macklin’s 43 and Mike Peak’s 59 soon snuffed out any lingering prospect of a comeback and their excellent 118-run partnership took the hosts to the brink of victory, Peak hitting the winning runs with 16.3 overs remaining.

WEYMOUTH II 247-4 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 67 (2pts) by 180 runs 

HIGH-FLYING Weymouth Seconds handed out a 180-run defeat to end Cattistock & Symene Thirds’ recent unbeaten run in County Division Five.

Electing to bowl first in hot and breezy conditions, skipper Phil Hawkins rotated all eight bowlers in an elusive attempt to achieve a breakthrough.

Top-order batters Brian Keane (33), Laurence Tonkin (31) and Lawrence West (27) all set out their stall.

Keane was eventually dismissed by young Sam Hart whose 2-19, and a fine catch at gully off Nate Stantiford-Knight, was especially noteworthy.

Jack Taylor (57no) and Pete Sapsworth (27no) then took the hosts to an imposing 247-4.

In reply, only Hart (14) was able to muster double figures as Sapsworth (3-20) and Graham Puckett (2-10) made early inroads.

But it was Evan Green’s accuracy, with 4-15 – all clean bowled – who snuffed out any lingering resistance to dispatch the visitors home with just two points.

Hawkins was philosophical afterwards, stating: “Weymouth were always going to be a stiff challenge but I want to congratulate my team for sticking to the task so well in a difficult match.”