PUDDLETOWN 182-5 lost to ST GEORGE’S 183-2 by 8 wickets

ST GEORGE’S lifted the Knockout Cup for the second year in succession with a dominant batting display at Dorchester Rec.

Andy Legg was the star of the show for the Saints, blasting an unbeaten 83 as his side chased down Puddletown’s 182-5 with five balls to spare.

Batting first, Puddletown made the most of the conditions to post what would normally be a match-winning score in 20-over cricket.

The two openers put on 30 for the first wicket before Gary Littlechild was caught by Tim Goodhew off Paul Chatterton (1-27) for 15.

But Lucas Allen and new man in, Matt Porter then added 103 with some excellent shots that put their side on the way to a big total.

Porter fell three runs short of his half-century and Allen was finally dismissed by Goodhew (2-37) for 79.

Ryan Norman (13), Manoz Gurung (7) and Steve Chaldecott (7no) helped boost the Puddle-town score, and 14 extras took them to 182-5.

The Saints’ openers, Matt King and Legg, made an excellent start to the cup holders’ reply.

They had taken the total to 52 when King was caught by Ryan Norman off the bowling of Daniel Biddiscombe for 19.

However, Legg ploughed on and, after a second-wicket stand of 64 with Jamie Barrett (39), he saw his team to victory alongside Goodhew.

The winning runs came off the first ball of the last over, Good-hew finishing unbeaten on 24 and man-of-the-match Legg just outdoing Allen with a knock of 83 not out.

The triumph was the Saints’ 13th in the competition and their fifth in the last 11 years.

“Puddletown batted well and got a really good score,” said St George’s captain Colin Gough.

“We had to keep up with the run-rate all the way through and Andy Legg batted really well.”