Cattistock & Symene Thirds lose to Weymouth Seconds by five wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Thirds were skittled for 65 by Weymouth Seconds, who sealed promotion out of County Division Five with this victory.

Despite wet weather wiping out most of the Dorset League programme, huge mopping-up efforts by the Symondsbury ground staff to prepare a firm, dry wicket allowed this fixture to proceed.

Skipper Ollie James elected to bat first but he fell for six along with Seb Gawen (2) and Phil Hawkins (0) who were immediately confronted by the probing accuracy of Graham Puckett (3-11), leaving the Foxes reeling at 12-3 inside the sixth over.

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Ben Elliott (13), Darren Staples (11) and Damian Barnard (10) were the only other batters to register double figures, with the tail subsiding to the bowling of Peter Sapsworth (3-8) and Sam Polley (2-29) in the 23rd over.

In reply, a defiant opening burst by opening bowler Jay Collins made early inroads to reduce the visitors to 15-2 and when Hawkins removed Sapsworth off the bowling of Jade Wilkinson to add yet another memorable diving catch to his repertoire, Weymouth were pegged back at 35-3.

At the other end, opener Jack Taylor, despite being dropped by James, batted serenely to underpin the innings with 36 not out.

With three fixtures remaining, the Foxes’ next face an important assignment at fellow strugglers Portland Red Triangle Seconds.

Cattistock & Symene firsts and seconds were rained off in the Premier League and Division Three respectively and sit ninth and eighth in their leagues.