WEYMOUTH 231-4 (20pts) beat PARLEY 119 (3pts) by 112 runs

KIERON Womble struck a superb unbeaten century as Weymouth recorded their third straight win with a 112-run thrashing of Parley at Redlands in County Division One.

Womble, whose knock of 118 from 122 included 14 fours and two sixes, also built a 130-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Paul Payne (54) as the Seasiders totalled 231-4 from 45 overs.

Parley were guilty of numerous dropped catches and sloppy ground fielding as the hosts made them pay for their errors.

Paul Payne (54) returned from university commitments to record a half-century but struggled throughout his innings with a muscle injury.

In reply, the East Dorset side were tied down by Graham Puckett (2-24) and Neil Walton (1-20) before Dom Webb (3-24) and Harry Mitchell (2-34) mopped up a spirited Parley tail.

The match had initially been called off for what was deemed to be a wet pitch but that decision was hastily reversed after discussions with Redlands staff and play began on a separate wicket.

After winning the toss, Parley elected to field on a bobbly surface and extracted uneven bounce as James Miller (1-49) and Ollie Sinha (1-47) made early breakthroughs.

It was then left to Womble and Payne to construct a huge stand and set Parley 232 to win.

But only the big-hitting Arrun Sinbham (23) and the impressive youngster Luke Neill (34) could resist Weymouth’s bowlers. Teenage all-rounder Webb delivered an impressive display to pick up three wickets, while Mitchell utilised some sharp turn to take a brace as the hosts sealed a maximum-point victory.

Speaking to Echosport following the win, skipper Simon Browne was delighted with the “in-form” Womble’s innings.

He said: “He’s looked more in-form this year than he has for the last couple of years.

“He’s a good batsman but certainly this year he’s looked capable of scoring more runs and he hit a great hundred on Saturday.

“Hopefully it’ll do him the world of good and he’ll go on and hit a few more runs for us during the season.”

Browne was again pleased with his team’s bowling as Weymouth sealed a third consecutive win.

“It’s probably as good a performance that we’ve put in for a while, we scored runs and skittled them out for not many.

“We were confident with 230 on that pitch. The opening bowlers kept it tight and took some wickets early on and it was a good all-round performance.

Weymouth's third win in four games puts them in third place in County Division One behind leaders Bere Regis and Christchurch and just one point above fourth-placed Cattistock.

The Seasiders will travel to Delph Woods on Saturday to take on bottom side Broadstone Seconds.

n Weymouth Seconds (174-9) lost to 10-man Symene (175-5) by three wickets.

Tony Quayle scored 55 for the visitors, who were undone by a fine performance from George Wyrill. The Symene all-rounder took 3-44 with the ball before striking an unbeaten 87.

CONTACT US:

t: 01305 830990

e: neil.walton

@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @EchosportNeil