DORSET LEOPARDS 288-4 beat DEVON LIONS 261-9 by 27 runs

DORSET Leopards shone during a testing encounter, beating Devon Lions by 27 runs on a sun-soaked day at the Hamworthy Club.

With Leopards’ captain Simon Mitchem batting first after winning the toss, the hosts lost Joseph Eckland (0) to Sean Letheren (1-61) before a superb 118-run stand between George Bartlett and Dorset regular Alex Eckland (65) moved the Leopards into a good position.

Ed Doble (2-48) trapped Eckland lbw before dismissing Simon Woodruff (2) as Devon briefly fought back at 136-3.

But Harry Fisher (66) smacked 10 fours in his 42-ball knock, supporting Bartlett who went on to score a patient century after Fisher was removed by Christian Cabburn (1-53).

George Wilson (28) added late impetus while Bartlett finished unbeaten on 109 as the Leopards closed after 50 overs on 288-4.

Dorset made a brilliant start in Devon’s reply as Mitchem bowled James Degg for a golden duck before castling Abraham Kopparambil and Doble to leave the Lions on 46-3.

Spinners Jack Walklett (1-32) and Jon Legg (2-43) produced controlled spells to further reduce Devon to 117-6 in a fabulous middle-over strangle.

However, Lions’ captain George Allen (149) delivered an astonishing century, including 17 fours and three sixes from 122 balls, to resuscitate the visitors.

Cole Harford (23) weighed in by scoring just 15 runs in their 90-run stand for the eighth wicket, until Mitchem returned to cruelly rob his opposite number of 150.

Mitchem also accounted for Harford to earn figures of 5-47 as the Leopards closed out an impressive victory.

Speaking to Echosport, captain Mitchem felt the entirety of his team had “chipped in”.

He said: “It makes life easier for me when you’ve got a very strong side out. Our spinners bowled really well, everyone chipped in and contributed. It was a proper all-round performance.

“It’s nice to get an opportunity and to do well individually in any game, but I’m more pleased with how the other guys stuck at it to the end – it was a long 50 overs.”

Mitchem added that the Leopards’ batting had provided a high standard to maintain.

He said: “We set the tone for the day and George played a fantastic knock to set it up. Fish and Ecks contributed and it was hard graft.

“Their skipper’s innings was probably one of the best hundreds I’ve seen, it was a real mammoth effort from him, but in the end we got the breakthrough and got over the line.”

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