CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 171 (7pts) lost to MARTINSTOWN 271-9 (20pts) by 100 runs

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE must wait another week to secure their Dorset Premier League survival after losing to Martinstown by 100 runs.

The Foxes are 23 points above bottom side Puddletown with two games remaining, meaning if they maintain at least a 21-point gap to Puddletown after this weekend they will stay up.

Thanks to a big score of 271-9 in their innings, Martinstown never seriously appeared troubled by the Foxes.

Robin Jones (3-45) exploited early movement to get rid of Ed Nichols (1) caught behind before taking a good return catch off Will Maltby (20), whose only scoring shots came from two fours and two sixes.

READ MORE: Cattistock & Symene beat Puddletown by 58 runs

Martinstown recovered from 36-2 but soon found themselves 108-4 when Henry Lewis (39) and Tom Pope (8) fell to Ethan Robertson (2-53).

Sean Williams (58) kicked the score on with willing support from Sam Kershaw (20) and brother Finlay Williams (47), while late contributions from Durant (21no) and Jacob Coombs (15no) set the Foxes 272 to win.

Wes Lewis (8) and Luke King got the hosts off to a good start but Dave Trotter pinned the latter lbw before King went on the attack, smacking six fours and a maximum.

He raced to 32 before Trotter had him caught, and Ollie Nicholas (0) was next to go to Coombs (3-19) as the Foxes reached 62-3.

Martinstown were able to build pressure as Nicholas and Reuben Kingston scored a combined one run from 42 balls, although Steve Tucker (22) did his best to ease the situation with two maximums.

Durant (4-45) combined with Coombs as Kingston (1), Tucker and Sam Good (0) all fell with the score on 89.

Durant and Coombs continued to take wickets regularly but Ollie Legg (48) proved the main resistance on their path to victory.

The all-rounder fell cruelly short of what would have been a defiant half-century as his 45-run stand for the final wicket with Jones (10no) was ended by Kershaw (1-20).

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 242-4 (19pts) beat POOLE TOWN III 240-6 (8pts) by six wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds halted a disappointing run of County Division Three results in emphatic manner to chase down a daunting total and win a high-scoring match against Poole Town Thirds by six wickets.

Poole’s batters all made double-figures as the Foxes struggled to take early wickets.

Opening bowlers Bradley Wilkinson 0-46 and James Boulton 1-50 toiled away without much reward but when skipper Joe Etherington turned to spin, this brought immediate rewards with Luke Robertson deceiving opener Nick Williams, caught off his own bowling for 40 with Robertson on his way to a 3-49 haul.

Etherington kept things tight at the other end and finished with an economical 1-36.

The hosts set about the run chase in determined manner, putting on a 139-run opening partnership to provide a sound foundation to the innings.

Geoff Rogers contributed a boundary-studded innings of 77 from just 76 balls, supported by the impressive Jason Bradley whose undefeated 91 played the vital anchor role.

Robertson, having a season to remember, yet again chipped in with a speedy 37 to swing momentum back to help see the hosts home with just 15 balls to spare.

An opportunity to complete a double at leaders Cerne Valley awaits on Saturday (1.30pm).

DORCHESTER III 135 (8pts) lost to CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 201 (20pts) by 66 runs

CATTISTOCK & Symene Thirds bounced back from the disappointment at Swanage to rack up a huge win to see off Dorchester Thirds by 66 runs.

This performance showcased all aspects of their abilities; first by setting a challenging target of 201 and then defending it with accurate, pacy bowling and good fielding.

Openers Leo Gurd (32), Jay Collins (10) and number three Lloyd Cleal (31) laid a solid base but the recall of veteran Phil Hawkins with a classy undefeated 43 calmly underpinned the innings, showing good judgement, deft strokeplay and sharply-run singles.

The hosts’ Brandon King 3-26 dismissed Nige Toohill bowled around his legs for a useful 10 and Graham Bartlett made a trademark 33 in a 62-run eighth-wicket partnership with Hawkins.

After tea, opening bowlers Ollie James’ pace and Jade Wilkinson’s probing accuracy was rewarded with early wickets to have the hosts reeling at 25-4.

A stunning catch by Hawkins, diving in front of the slip cordon, removed Harry Besant for 10 and triggered a flurry of wickets until James Pickering (41) and Lukin Wilson (17) stabilised the innings.

But the introduction of twirler Graham Bartlett stalled the recovery and his 3-15 saw the visitors home with 12 overs to spare.