ST GEORGE’S 128-3 beat CATTISTOCK 127-6 by seven wickets

ST GEORGE’S sealed a league and cup double after cruising to a seven-wicket triumph over Cattistock in the Doug Read Cup final at the Rec.

The Saints won the toss, electing to bowl first on a green wicket, and were rewarded when opening bowler Ross Baker (2-18) had Billy Wallbridge (4) caught behind courtesy of sharp glovework up to the stumps from Brian Keegan.

At 6-1, the Foxes then began to motor as they progressed to 29-1 from four overs, thanks largely to three boundaries from powerful new batsman Steve Tucker.

However, Tucker’s aggression was tempered by Jon Legg’s cautious start and, having made just six from 20 balls, Baker tempted the opener into an airborne cover drive which was pouched by Rich Cole.

Saints turned the screw in the middle overs with the introduction of the wily Sean Walbridge.

The accurate left-armer bowled beautifully in his four-over spell to return man-of-the-match figures of 2-12, accounting for George Coleman (5) and Liam Toohill (0) as the Foxes slumped to 57-4.

But the belligerent Tucker (72) propelled his side back into contention with some brutal hitting.

The Cattistock captain punished anything in his arc to great effect, smashing nine fours and two sixes in his 50-ball innings before holing out to Matt King off Matt Randell (1-12) down the ground.

Placed on 115-5, Proffitt (1-32) returned to bowl Joe Baggs (0) before the Foxes pushed on to 127-6 from their 20 overs, Brad Mullins scoring a useful 11 not out from just four balls.

In reply, Saints’ openers King (15) and Randell (25) began at close to a run-a-ball, hitting four boundaries between them and rotating the strike effectively in reaching 36-0.

Needing a breakthrough, the usually patient King presented Cattistock with their opening by swiping at the left-arm spin of Legg (1-24), who castled the St George’s all-rounder.

Tight bowling from Brandon Ward (0-23) produced Cattistock’s next wicket as Randell hesitated in taking a quick single following four consecutive dots, allowing Ollie Legg to hurl a magnificent direct run-out from mid-wicket.

Saints were unperturbed at 52-2 though, as Proffitt and new man Jamie Barrett (18) continued to score well above the required run rate with some superbly-timed shots to all parts of the ground.

Barrett’s 15-ball innings was halted by Wallbridge (1-7) but Rich Cole (14no) proved the perfect foil for Proffitt (41no), the pair calmly striking off the remaining runs to handsomely reach their target with 15 balls left.

Saints’ skipper Rob Cole was “really pleased” to claim his side’s second piece of silverware this year.

He said: “We played them in the league a few weeks ago and chased down about 140 – we’re used to chasing, we’ve done it well this season. We weren’t sure what a good total would be and obviously to get it with a couple of overs to spare, I’m really pleased.”

He added: “It was really good bowling and fielding and just keeping at it. There was some good batting from Simon and the two Matts up top.

“It got away a bit at the start but we brought it back in the middle overs and kept getting wickets, Steve Tucker batted really well.”

Cattistock captain Tucker paid credit to the Saints’ batting display, adding that the Foxes were just “happy” to make the final.

He said: “They know the pitch better than we do and they batted better than we did as a team. In the end they were a worthy winner – a very strong team. We’re glad to make the final bearing in mind we’ve struggled for a team all year, so just positives from us, we’re happy to be here.”

On his knock of 72, Tucker said: “This is my third time in the cup final and two times I’ve got in the teens and not gone on, so I’m glad personally to get some runs, it’s just a shame they weren’t on the winning side.”