WICKETKEEPER Paul Bassindale was the hero of Dorchester Casuals tense, last-over victory against St George's which clinched their third Dorchester Evening League Division One title in a row.

The former Dorchester CC skipper slammed an unbeaten 62 that included a pivotal six in the 14th over as his fourth-wicket partnership with Pete Diffey (42no) won the game with just one ball to spare.

Casuals had to win to deny Weymouth Tandoori the chance to take them on in a championship play-off. When they began their chase after St George's target of 122-1 (Mike Cole 61no, Neil Paul 45no) by losing their first three wickets for 13 runs the watching Tandoori men must have thought the door was opening for them.

But Bassindale and Diffey repaired the damage and then smashed 30 off the last four overs to claim the title.

Tandoori had kept their hopes alive when a late flourish by South African star Ben de Vos saw them home against St George's with four balls to spare.

In a match reduced to 16 overs on an overcast night, St George's posted 76-7 (Garry King 20, Neil Paul 19, Tim Peplow 2-21, Paul Baker 2-11, Dave Trotter 2-23).

The Currymen lost their first two wickets with only four on the board before Paul Payne (41no) and Dave Trotter (13) got the scoreboard ticking over and De Vos then came in to put the finishing touch.

DIVISION TWO

Buckland Newton 88 (Tristan Todd 26, Colin Mitchell 22, Steven Chaldecott 6-33, Dan Belt 2-14) beat Puddletown Reserves 85-5 (Chaldecott 42no, Paul Crocker 10, Thomas May 2-25)

Buckland opened the batting and were all out with one ball left setting Puddletown a modest target of six an over.

This proved to be a struggle and with only star bowler Chaldecott showing any resistance, they ran out of balls when three runs short.

Martinstown 103-1 (Ian Sibley 48no, Simon Rich 40no, Dave Hanlon 1-25) beat Winfrith TC 101-4 (James Martin 39, Tim Clark 27, David Muhryne 14, Ian Sibley 2-33)

Winfrith put a lot of runs on the board in their 14 overs and thought they were in with a great chance. But they reckoned without Dorchester opener Ian Sibley and Simon Rich whose second-wicket stand saw Martinstown end the match with four balls left.