SWANAGE 119-9 (4pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 122-7 (17pts) by three wickets

DAN Hutchens produced a scintillating performance with bat and ball to give Weymouth their first win in Premier One this term, on a low-scoring pitch at Swanage.

The Seasiders’ seamer returned figures of 3-18 from his 10 overs, and then accumulated an unbeaten 27 with the bat including the winning runs to give his side a thorough three-wicket vic- tory.

Bowling with good discipline throughout the first innings, Weymouth’s David Trotter backed up the good work done by opening pacemen Hutchens and Matt Lawes.

Trotter produced five maidens in his first five overs to help strangle the Swans’ scoring, who had pulled off a shock victory against Parley a week previously, to just 119 from their 50 overs.

And although Weymouth got off to a nervy start with the bat losing three wickets for just eight runs, Hutchens came to the crease to join skipper Kieron Womble later in the innings and the duo shared a match-winning partnership of 57 for the seventh wicket.

“It’s a big step to getting the season on track,” Weymouth captain Womble told Echosport.

On Hutchens’ stand-out display, he added: “It was fantastic from him, he’s a fantastic guy and he bowled really well and his performance with the bat was superb.”

And Womble believes that with this victory, the Seasiders’ season is now fully on track, and his team are determined to get some more wins on the board early on in the campaign.

“We took the positives from the Parley game two weeks ago and everyone put 100 per cent in again,” he said.

“To restrict Swanage to a low score and to get there in the end with the bat was really pleasing.

“It’s a huge boost to everyone and you could tell in the changing room afterwards that everyone is up for the season and were looking forward to getting out there again.”