ST GEORGE’S 148-7 (18pts) beat FOVANT 110 (5pts) by 21 runs on rain-reduced target

ST GEORGE’S went joint top of Dorset Sunday League Division One after coming out on top of another low-scoring game at Dorchester Rec.

Home skipper Garry King won the toss for the first time this season and elected to bat but his side found runs hard to come by against the visitors’ accurate opening attack and run-saving field.

Rob Cole initially broke the shackles with a couple of lofted boundaries before Jamie Barrett joined Sam Goodhew at the crease and the pair combined for the only stand of note in the inn- ings.

Barrett struck two divine sixes over long-on, while Goodhew accumulated runs more steadily and eventually brought up his half-century.

After both batsmen were dismissed, it was once again left to skipper King to boost the total in the latter overs before the innings closed on a slightly below-par 148-7.

The Fovant reply began badly with Crispin Brown picking up a wicket with only his second delivery.

Sam Goodhew continued his good all-round form to pick up a couple of wickets but num- ber three batsmen Anthony Cavanaugh decided to go for his shots and made a hard-hit 37 before he gave a return catch to the left-arm spin of Mark James.

With rain falling steadily, Garry King took a stunning one-handed catch at mid-wicket to give Good-hew his third victim before the players left the field with the score on 68-5 from 15 overs and the game was well and truly in the balance.

Five overs were lost for the rain delay and the visitors tar- get had been reduced to 131 but they lost skipper Tom Pearce to a run-out in the first over following the resumption.

This left the tail exposed to Tim Goodhew’s express pace and he didn’t disappoint as he took the last four wickets at a cost of only 16 runs.

Rob Pittman did his best to smash his side to victory but when he was bowled by Goodhew the game ended with his side still 21 runs short of the revised target.

* The Saints travel to Winton on Sunday (1.30pm).

Saints: G King, M King, James, Gough, Keegan, Rob Cole, T Goodhew, J Barrett, S Goodhew, Brown, A Barrett. Umpire: Mike King. Scorer: V King. Meet Rec noon.