Cattistock & Symene lose to Broadstone by six wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene were edged out as early Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League leaders Broadstone took a four-wicket win at Cattistock.

After being invited to bat following a lost toss, the Foxes made excellent early progress as Wes Lewis crashed a belligerent 85 from 73 balls.

His knock included eight fours and seven sixes before he became one of seven victims for the outstanding Jack Morgan (7-35).

Leo Gurd batted superbly for his 33, while Robin Jones (28) and Ollie Legg (19) plus a healthy 38 extras contributed to a score of 219 all out.

READ MORE: Steve Tucker hits century in vain for Cattistock & Symene

However, Broadstone enjoyed the conditions just as much, breezing to 51-0 before Ben Parkin (14) was bowled by Jones (2-36).

Matty Whittle (42), Gareth Williams (4) and opener Simon Leadbeater (56) then became a quick triple casualty as Luke King (3-30) made inroads.

Jones returned to bowl Charlie Groves (13) and Sam Good (1-41) castled Harry Leadbeater (1) as the Foxes sniffed victory, reducing Broadstone to 179-6.

That was until composed innings from Morgan (29no) and Jamie Harlowe (21no) took Broadstone home with two overs to spare.

Cattistock’s Steve Tucker said: "It wasn't the tidiest of games. Both teams gave away a lot of extras and offered chances with the bat.

“Wes and Leo batted really well to put us in a really strong position but we failed to make the most of that.

“We created chances, especially late in the game, which we failed to take."

The Foxes now visit champions Poole on Saturday (1pm).

Tucker added: "Poole Park isn't a nice place to visit. The pitch can be very tricky and their bowlers know how to play it.

“We will go there and play our usual game, attacking with bat and ball where possible and hopefully take the game to the current champions."

POOLE TOWN III 149-2 (19pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 148 (4pts) by eight wickets

CATTISTOCK & Symene Seconds crashed to an eight-wicket defeat at Whitecliff Rec in County Division Three.

Foxes’ skipper Reuben Kingston (3) elected to bat first and despite he and fellow-opener Justin Gurd (11) soon falling cheaply to Sam Leaton (2-31), this decision looked sound as Ed Maltby and Brad Wilkinson got things back on track with a superb 96-run third-wicket partnership to put the visitors in control, Maltby punishing any loose bowling to lead the recovery in fine style.

However the departure of Wilkinson for 25 triggered a major collapse to see them fall from 110-2 to 148 all out, Maltby eventually falling for 69.

After tea, and despite an early breakthrough by Kieran McAllister (1-22) to remove opener Ben Walsh (0), the Poole batters took complete control to register a 91-run second-wicket partnership.

Matthew Hobbs scored 66 despite Kingston deploying eight bowlers in an effort to remove him but it was a Maltby leg-cutter that induced an edge to the wicketkeeper, finally seeing him off.

Wilkinson and Jack Bartlett had kept things tight with economical spells but Graeme Overy (40no) helped his side to victory.

CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 110-3 (20pts) beat PUDDLETOWN II 109 (3pts) by seven wickets 

EXCELLENT bowling and fielding plus another fine innings from in-form Sam Challis saw Cattistock & Symene Thirds defeat Puddletown Seconds at Symene to leave them fifth in Division Five.

Puddletown were restricted to just 109 all out despite the Foxes conceding 42 extras, with seven visitors dismissed bowled.

In the first over, Phil Hawkins pulled a stunning diving catch off Jay Collins’ bowling to get things underway and Sam Hart’s fine start to the season continued with a 3-28 haul which included the scalp of top-scorer Michael Crabb for 25.

Nate Stantiford-Knight’s left-arm fast bowling provided variety and saw him return a useful 2-16.

In the second innings, the hosts were immediately reeling at 16-3 with skipper Ollie James (1), George Crabb (2) and Seb Gawen (6) all back in the pavilion early on.

The arrival of Challis turned the match on its head as he wrestled back the initiative by dominating the innings with an unbeaten 63, mixing hard-hitting strokeplay with nimble running of singles alongside the alert Hawkins, who contributed a watchful unbeaten seven in their unbroken 94-run partnership, racing towards the winning line with 20 overs to spare.