Cattistock & Symene lose by eight wickets at Martinstown

CATTISTOCK & Symene lost a third successive Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League game as Martinstown took a resounding eight-wicket win at Lower Ashton Farm.

The Foxes won the toss and elected to bat first, although a flurry of early wickets put them in trouble.

Brad Mullins (44) and Ollie Legg (38) saved the innings but the visitors could only post 195 all out.

Their total was rapidly overhauled as Henry Lewis (52) Ed Nichols (49no) got Town off to a solid start before Will Maltby smashed an unbeaten 52 from 31 balls to see the hosts home with 16 overs to spare.

READ MORE: Cattistock & Symene lose to Bere Regis by six wickets

Foxes’ skipper Steve Tucker said: “It's always disappointing when you under-perform as a team, and we are currently doing that too regularly.

“Martinstown didn't have to work hard this week to beat us, we handed them wickets, extras and mis-fields all afternoon.

"There are some important games coming up and we have to improve if we want to stay in this league. Players have to step up.

“Availability has not been good enough this year and lack of regular match practice is showing.

“I still back us to show the class we have in our team and fight our way back into form but we need to do it soon."

The Foxes face Blandford on Saturday (1pm), with Tucker adding: "It is a difficult one to prepare for, they've done well since being promoted and are a bit of an unknown.

“All we can do is focus on correcting our side of things and putting in a strong team performance.

“Our top order are due some runs and as a bowling unit, it is time we started taking more wickets and offering less extras. It's about getting the basics right this week."

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 171 (7pts) lost to BERE REGIS II 174-6 (20pts) by four wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds’ batting headaches continued with a four-wicket loss to Bere Regis Seconds in County Division Three.

Foxes’ skipper Reuben Kingston rejigged the batting order by promoting hard-hitting Sam Good to opener and the ‘Bazball’ tactic soon paid dividends with Good racing to 38 off 30 balls before falling victim to Joel Curtis.

The innings then slumped from 47-0 to 49-3 but Harry Angle (13), Luke Robertson (35) and George Wyrill (20) steadied the ship but the Foxes were eventually dismissed for 171, Bradley Wilkinson (9no) remaining unbeaten with Tom Swain’s 4-38 curtailing the innings. 

In reply, Bere themselves set off at a frantic pace to stamp their authority on the match and despite taking wickets at regular intervals there was no appreciable reduction of the aggressive run-rate.

The introduction of Jack Bartlett’s spin stemmed the flow somewhat and he finished with 3-39 but another brisk innings from Bere skipper Garry King (40no off 23 balls) saw the visitors home with 14 overs to spare.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 202-9 (9pts) lost to WIMBORNE IV 250-8 (19pts) by 48 runs

DESPITE this defeat to a strong Wimborne Fourths, Cattistock & Symene Thirds still managed to harvest a useful nine bonus points through a solid all-round batting and bowling performance.

Wimborne batted first and despite Jade Wilkinson celebrating her birthday by removing both openers cheaply, a third-wicket stand between Richard Preston (72) and Justin Perry (44) proved hard to budge.

Sam Hart’s emerging talent was evident as he trapped Preston lbw on his way to an impressive 2-27 but Chris Dunk’s undefeated 44 saw the total to a daunting 250-8.

After tea, the Foxes’ reply got off to a disappointing start as Seb Gawen and Lucas Richards both departed cheaply but James marshalled a stirring recovery alongside Damian Barnard.

Their 114-run third-wicket stand forced Wimborne into numerous bowling and fielding changes to secure a breakthough.

Dunk deployed accuracy to build pressure and duly got his reward by removing James who departed for a fine 53.

Barnard made 51 but apart from Ben Elliott (21) the tail were unable to chase down the daunting total, at least denying Wimborne full bowling points.