CHRISTCHURCH 109-4 (19pts) beat WEYMOUTH 107 (3pts) by six wickets

WEYMOUTH delivered another below-par batting display as Christchurch emerged as comfortable six-wicket victors in their County Division One match at Hurn Bridge.

Dean Janaway’s men won the toss and batted first, but soon found themselves in trouble at 2-2 when openers Tony Quayle (1) and Harry Mitchell (0) were dismissed by Liam Bowater (2-5) and Warren Bennett (1-10) respectively.

Weymouth responded well through Dom Webb (30) and Kieron Womble (26), who shared 41 for the third wicket until Womble was run out.

The returning Paul Payne (8) was then ousted by Jack Salter (3-23) before Webb succumbed to Thomas Hughes (3-15) as Weymouth reached 87-5.

Yet their next five wickets fell for just 20 runs as they subsided to 107 all out.

Christchurch were never seriously troubled in their chase, with Joseph Malone (51) and Tom Marsh putting on 56 for the first wicket until Jack Taylor (1-13) found Marsh’s edge.

Salter (22) then joined Malone at the wicket and the duo shared 30 before Malone was removed by Cube Whyte (2-32) moments after reaching his half-century.

Australian Whyte was causing problems for the home batsmen and Salter perished to his off-spin, with Mitchell (1-9) trapping Gareth Williams (1) leg before as Weymouth reduced the home side to 101-4.

But it was left to Graham Bowater (9no) to steer second-placed Christchurch home to the win.

Speaking to Echosport after the game, stand-in skipper Janaway was encouraged by his young side’s performance against tough opposition.

He said: “Kieron and Dom Webb batted really well until Kieron was unfortunately run out and Webby batted great, he’s looked great for the last few weeks, it’s a real positive for us.

“It was disappointing with the bat again but people didn’t give their wickets away like they did the week before so we learned a bit from that.

“We couldn’t defend 100 runs, but Jack Taylor got another wicket and bowled well.

“Harry Mitchell was great again, took a catch in the field and bowled well.

“All these younger lads we want to be giving them a game as much as we can, but it’s going to take a bit of time to find our level so these guys can learn how to play.

“It was a pretty under-strength bowling line-up and we were always going to struggle. You can’t fault anyone’s effort.”

Next up for Weymouth is a trip to bottom side Wimborne & Colehill Seconds, with the Seasiders sitting in sixth on 150 points, 46 points head of Saturday’s opponents.