Cattistock & Symene lose to Blandford by seven runs

FURIOUS Cattistock & Symene skipper Steve Tucker lamented five leg before decisions against the Foxes as Blandford edged his side by seven runs in the Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League.

Blandford were skittled for 122 as George Foot claimed 4-23 but the hosts were unfazed and rolled the Foxes for 115 with key calls going in their favour, Jamie Mitchell (5-20) their chief tormentor.

Tucker said: “It is a tough result to take. We were the better side and had the win there for the taking only to come up short.

READ MORE: Unwanted hat-trick of losses for Cattistock & Symene

"The wicket was the worst we've seen this season. It was a good toss to win and our bowlers and fielding backed that up. Footy and Ollie carved through their middle and lower order.

"With the bat, I can't actually find too much to criticise.

“We had five LBWs given against us, including some absolute shockers.

“If even one of those calls goes our way, I feel we win the game.”

SHILLINGSTONE 75-1 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 72 (1pt) by nine wickets

THE Foxes second string were bowled out for 72 at Shillingstone in County Division Three.

Skipper and opener Reuben Kingston elected to bat in hot and dry conditions but had to stand at the other end and watch all ten of his team-mates depart cheaply, with only fellow opener Eric Woollard’s 14 offering much resistance.

Shill’s David Lockyer bagged 3-20 but it was Eddie Weedon’s 4-18 that hurried the innings to a premature conclusion in the 19th over, leaving a defiant Kingston carrying his bat for an unbeaten 20 runs.

Forced to defend such a low total Kingston had to set attacking fields in the quest for early wickets.

Bradley Wilkinson duly obliged, with Jack Bartlett taking a fine catch to dismiss Nick Marshall (8) but this proved to be the only success.

Chris Cole (47no) and Charles Austin (11no) saw the hosts comfortably home as early as the 11th over.

With a long-overdue return to Symondsbury hosting two of the next three fixtures, the seconds will be looking for an upturn in their fortunes to move up to a more comfortable mid-table position as the second half of the season gets underway.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 61 (0pts) lost to LYTCHETT 64-1 (20pts) by nine wickets

THE Foxes’ third team also had a day to forget, suffering a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Lytchett. 

Things began ominously with Jamie Aldridge making a breakthrough in the first over.

Lloyd Cleal and Owen Staples promptly followed without troubling the scorer and it was left to Lucas Richards (18) and skipper Justin Thyme-Gurd (16) to mount something of a recovery.

Neither could form partnerships with the other batters and the innings subsided to total just 61 in the 18th over.

Aldridge bowled unchanged and dismissed the entire top five to return an outstanding 6-24 analysis.

He was ably supported by Paul Cox’s 3-26 which included the crucial wicket of Phil Hawkins, one of the six Foxes to register a duck.

After tea, the visitors’ bowling attack came up against the experienced opening batters Tom Phillips (24no) and Paul Hanrahan.

Hanrahan’s dismissal by Sam Hart for 19 with the score on 47 proved the only success of the innings as Lytchett raced across the winning line with 25 overs to spare.

A run of four consecutive away games now face the thirds, beginning with Poole Town Fourths on Saturday (1pm).