SHERBORNE 218-7 (19pts) beat DORCHESTER 175 (6pts) by 43 runs

MISTAKES in the field proved costly for Dorchester on Saturday, as Dan Belt’s troops relinquished top spot in Premier Two.

Sherborne’s 43-run victory at Dorchester Rec saw them take an 11-point lead at the summit with three games left.

However, the title and promotion to Premier One remains in the hands of the county town side.

They have three massive fixtures to go, all away from home, including a trip to Sherborne.

Batting first after winning the toss on Saturday, Sherborne were allowed to post a total of 218-7 in 48 overs due to a couple of untimely dropped catches.

Belt felt those drops were worth as many as 70 extra runs to the visitors.

“It was a day of dropped catches for us,” he said. “We probably conceded 60-70 runs from dropped catches.

“I lost the toss and we were asked to field. We picked up a wicket early on but then they had a good spell.

“We got seven wickets in the end but our mistakes in the field cost us a lot of runs.”

Dorchester’s reply got off to a shaky start but Belt and Fergus Guppy (47) steadied the innings.

The two were looking comfortable at the crease when skipper Belt was stumped in strange circumstances. He added: “We were three wickets down but myself and Fergus were looking comfortable.

“Then I was out to a freak dismissal when the ball hit the wicketkeeper on his neck and bounced down on to the stumps.

“I was just out of my ground so was given out stumped, but it’s just one of those things.

“I felt I was really unlucky and it was the thing that turned the game.

“We had a little flurry of runs from a few people and the last-wicket pair hit a couple of sixes which gave us an extra batting point.

“Sherborne have gone top by 11 points but there is still everything to play for.

“Whoever can win their last three games will win the league.”

Martinstown suffered their third successive defeat at the weekend, going down by 93 runs at Bere Regis.