DORCHESTER 86-2 (19pts) beat PARLEY 82 (1pts) by eight wickets

SIMON Mitchem was left feeling slightly disappointed with himself after his side’s emphatic eight-wicket victory over Parley at home – because his side didn’t score maximum points.

His bowlers all pitched in as the away side were skittled out for just 82. George Foot was the pick of the bowlers (4-30) after he had dismantled Parley’s tail.

In reply, Dan Belt continued his fine form with an unbeaten half-century, but the hosts lost two wickets – the second of those was captain Mitchem – meaning they could not pick up the full 20 points.

Speaking after the game, Mitchem told Echosport: “It was a little frustrating that we didn’t pick up the full points, but that was my bad.

“Our opening bowlers led from the front again and then George (Foot) and James (Caldwell) came on and they also bowled very well. It was a really top notch performance with the ball, which was a great to see.”

On what was a gloomy day at the Rec, Dorchester looked to take advantage of the conditions as they won the toss and elected to bowl first.

They didn’t have to wait long for their first scalp.

James Dunham has been electric this season and he continued to impress as he got the breakthrough, bowling Parley opener, Jake Markham, for nought.

He then removed the visitors’ other opener Max Trueman, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dan Belt for just nine.

This left the visitors struggling on 11-2 and that soon became 18-3 as Josh Richardson removed captain Jonathan Rake for five.

There was a small rebuild by the visitors as Alex Cridland joint top scored with 14 before he was sent back to the pavilion by Dunham who finished with figures of 3-32.

It was then the turn of Caldwell and Foot to get into the action.

Caldwell saw the back of Tom Barber (7) and Steve Roe (0) before Foot took the last four wickets.

He removed both Chris Williams (14) and Alex Gould (12), who did put up some brief resistance, as well as David Elrick and James Miller as the visitors were bowled out for a score that never looked likely to trouble the Dorchester batsmen.

Opening the innings for Dorchester, Belt seemed to have somewhere to be as he cracked boundaries to all corners of the Rec in his unbeaten 46-ball 54.

Pete Moxom (12), who has been in blistering form in the Dorchester & District Evening League, was first to depart for the hosts as he looked to follow in the footsteps of Belt.

All of his runs came from boundaries before he was caught and bowled by Miller.

Captain Mitchem (5) was next to go as he was caught off the bowling of Kelly Gauci.

This wicket meant his side were unable to secure the full 20 points from the game.

His side still ran out comfortable winners as Dan Morris hit two boundaries to see his side over the line in just 13.1 overs.

Dorchester have now lost just once at home all season, and it is becoming a fortress for the county town side.

Speaking about this, he said: “It’s nice to and win at home.

“We want to win every game we play and we just have to keep doing what we’re doing and let’s see where that takes us.”

Before the game, the whole club was present as the Mayor of Dorchester, Tim Harries, was present to open the new bar inside Dorchester’s pavilion.

It was a special moment and Mitchem is proud to see his club on the rise.

He added: “It’s great to have that. It brings people together and it’s a great social side of the club.

“Both our teams are very close and we are in a great position.”

“Slowly but surely we’re getting there.”