BROADSTONE II 72 (1pt) lost to CATTISTOCK & SYMENE II 76-2 (20pts) by eight wickets

TIGHT bowling and fielding set up a resounding eight-wicket win at the Delph to give Cattistock & Symene Seconds a timely boost towards mid-table safety in County Division Three.

Ethan Robertson got the innings off to a fine start by removing Richard Poole for 0 in the first over and Bradley Wilkinson produced another suffocating spell of 1-12 from his six overs including the wicket of Broadstone skipper Gary Smith, bowled for 11.

A 27-run stand for the third wicket was broken by Robertson on his way to 3-27 and his spell triggered the last seven wickets being hurried out for just 27 runs, with excellent spells from Ed Maltby (2-15) and Joe Etherington (4-6), who dismissed the last four batters in just 16 balls.

READ MORE: Cattistock & Symene lose to Sherborne by four wickets

After the interval, a few run-out scares between openers Reuben Kingston and Leo Gurd nearly led to catastrophe.

Once nerves had settled, an opening stand of 30 was ended with Kingston (6) holing out at long-on to Poole.

Gurd took control of the innings with a classy unbeaten knock of 41 off just 39 balls and he was joined by Harry Angel who bludgeoned a trademark 18 not out, including two maximums, to see the Foxes romp home in the 13th over.

STALBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT 243-8 (20pts) beat CATTISTOCK & SYMENE III 140 (7pts) by 103 runs

DEPLETED Cattistock & Symene Thirds lost by 103 runs at Stalbridge Development but still emerged with a creditable seven bonus points from the trip north.

Skipper Phil Hawkins lost the toss in ideal batting conditions but Jay Collins and Lucas Richards soon made early inroads with Hawkins himself getting in on the act with two memorable diving catches in the gully.

A brisk opening spell from paceman Luke Sibley finally removed opener Cameron McKinnon for 24 but this ushered in Andy Dike to join Josh Lewis to provide a 103-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Sam Hart eventually dismissed Dike for 78 and Collins bowled Lewis for 48.

In reply, Foxes openers Jason Bradley and Sam Hart set about chasing the daunting 243 target with aplomb and were ahead of the asking rate when Hart fell for a well-made 19.

Bradley continued with unflappable strokeplay and, despite losing partners cheaply at the other end, held the innings together with a classy 62 before being one of Oscar White’s victims, the bowler decimating the middle order on his way to 4-33.

Extras (41) boosted the total to 140 and the visitors battled until the 34th over before eventually capitulating.

Meanwhile, Cattistock & Symene’s first team were washed out in their home clash with Wessex Internet Dorset Premier League leaders Wimborne.