DORCHESTER 170-7 (19pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE 169-9 (6pts) by three wickets

DORCHESTER have taken the Dorset Premier League title race into the final weekend for the second season running after a tense three-wicket win over Cattistock & Symene.

Dorchester needed to beat the Foxes at Dorchester Rec to guarantee themselves a shot at winning the league for a fourth consecutive time.

Their 19 points in this game matched that of top side Poole’s haul against Martinstown, meaning an eight-point gap still exists.

Long-time leaders Wimborne, however, lost at home to Broadstone and need both Poole and Dorchester to suffer massive defeats on the final day to overhaul a 16-point gap.

READ MORE: Martinstown beat Cattistock & Symene by 100 runs

Dorchester were given a strenuous test by Cattistock, with a catalogue of players missing causing both their second and third teams to scratch their matches.

With captain Dan Belt out, vice-skipper Jon Legg took the reins and opted to bowl first after winning the toss.

Dorchester had the Foxes at 19-2 as Billy Baker (1-26) and Rob Nobbs (2-36) dismissed attacking opening pair Wes Lewis (0) and Luke King (6).

Ollie Nicholas (37) and Reuben Kingston (23) gave some resistance in a 42-run stand until Simon Mitchem (1-17) pinned the former lbw.

Gautham Rajendar (3-34) worked away while Legg (2-28) dismissed big-hitting pair Steve Tucker (0) and Sam Good (24).

Only a fine 39 not out from Ollie Legg dragged the Foxes to a defendable score of 169-9 as the visitors denied Dorchester maximum bowling points.

Dorchester’s task was made more difficult when seamer George Wyrill (3-43) made a crucial double breakthrough, Jim Ryall (4) and Ben Macklin (0) both falling to leave the hosts on 7-2.

Mitchem (13) and Rajendar (10) then departed as Dorchester were checked at 61-4.

However, up stepped Jamie Barrett (50) and Legg (43) with gritty knocks to get Dorchester within touching distance of victory with an 83-run partnership.

Although they both perished shy of the winning line, Nobbs (8), Brandon King (10no) and Baker (1no) all contributed late on to steer Dorchester home with 19 balls remaining.

CERNE VALLEY 160-0 (22pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 157 (5pts) by ten wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds were handed a ten-wicket hammering at Cerne Valley which ensured the hosts won County Division Three with a week of the season still remaining.

The visitors batted first and another classy knock by Geoff Rogers who scored 70, led the way, but he could not find a partner long enough to stay alongside to build a larger total. Rogers now averages 119 over the course of the season.

Mr. Dependable Luke Robertson again chipped in with a useful 30 but the last six wickets tumbled for the addition of just 24 runs and led to the innings ending prematurely in the 31st over.

Mike Collinge returned 4-33 from his spell including the key wicket of Rogers.

The Foxes' bowlers had a day to forget as an unbroken opening partnership between John Stiles (67no) and George Chubb (69no), helped by 24 extras, ensured nobody troubled the wickets column as Cerne romped home in the 19th over and avenged the narrow defeat at their opponents' hands in June.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 209-8 (20pts) beat PARLEY IV 78 (5pts)

IT WAS the ‘Ollie James Show’ as Cattistock & Symene Thirds notched up yet another impressive performance to defeat Parley Fourths by 131 runs in Division Six.

Batting first, the visitors were in difficulty when the last recognised batter Phil Hawkins, scoring 26, walked in front of his stumps to be plumb lbw at 74-6.

Enter Graham Bartlett, finally running into form with the bat with the season nearly ending, and he showed all his experience to bludgeon a quickfire 71; James supporting with an invaluable 25 not out to take the total above 200.

After tea, James opened with a hostile spell of bowling but without initial success.

However, switching to an around the wicket line brought immediate rewards and he bowled four of the top six Parley batters on his way to a 5-28 analysis.

The promising Nate Stantiford-Knight bowled with excellent control and discipline in support from the other end to return a fine 3-13. Jade Wilkinson also weighed in with her usual success to bag 2-8.

Leo Gurd’s impressive team seem likely conclude their season with a highly creditable third spot. A final assignment at newly-crowned champions Weymouth Seconds should prove a useful barometer to 2023’s prospects.