9:04am Monday 6th July 2009
By Ky Capel
POOLE TOWN 317-9 (20pts) beat WEYMOUTH 211 (9pts) by 106 runs
A PAUL Payne century was not enough to stop Weymouth going down to a 106-run defeat at the hands of Poole Town.
The loss at Redlands was the Seasiders’ first in the Dorset Premier League since the end of May. After seeing the visitors rack up an enormous tally of 317, Weymouth had it all to do.
But unfortunately, despite Payne’s (101) greatest efforts, the home side fell short. Captain Jim Ryall was disappointed with the defeat, and his side’s fielding display in particular, but was quick to hold his hands up.
He said: “So far this season, whilst I’ve been captain, every decision I’ve made has worked. In this game I made three decisions and none of them worked.
“Dropping myself down the order didn’t come off, playing three spinners didn’t come off and neither did putting Andy Fulton a little higher in the order.
“As skipper I take a lot of the praise when we win but I also take the responsibility when we lose. It’s not the end of the world but it’s just the manner in which we lost.
“In the first 12 overs Poole were gaining six runs per over. I put in three spinners as I knew the ball would turn a lot later on, but unfortunately we lost the toss and that seemed to put a bit of pressure on our bowlers.
“The same thing is happening every week where we let them get away and we have to try and claw it back. Cube Whyte started to do that but it didn’t come off in the end.
“Our fielding was dreadful and perhaps the worst we’ve fielded all season. There was no spark and Poole were getting ones and twos when they shouldn’t have. We also dropped K Wilson early on and he went on to get 81.
“Poole are a cracking side and got off to a cracking start. But when we had them for 128-4 we knew that nicking another wicket could see us get them out for under 200. As it was they had a great stand which saw them go up to 262.
“Paul Payne batted outstandingly for us while Tom England and Dean Janaway also did well until they got out.
“It was just a bad day at the office for us, we’ll move on to next week at Blandford and just draw a line under this game.”
Having won the toss, the away side began positively with D Robjohns (64) hitting a flurry of boundaries.
But with the score on 83, the Weymouth attack finally started to make inroads as Matt Lawes (3-52), in his second spell, dismissed Ben Dyson (26).
Lawes then sent Robjohns on his way in the 17th over and, after B Edgell (12) was run out, it was not long before D Miller (9) became Lawes’ third victim.
However, K Wilson (81) and B Alam (81) put on 134 for the fifth wicket to get Poole back on track.
Hutchens (2-68) eventually claimed the scalp of the dangerous duo but the visitors still managed to break the 300 barrier before the innings drew to a close.
The Seasiders’ reply got off to a shaky start as Faraz Ulhaq (4) went early doors. Tom England (21) joined forces with Payne to create a 58 partnership but the latter began to run out of sidekicks as the former, Andy Fulton (9) and Andy Bray (3) were all sent packing.
Dean Janaway (25) notched three fours and a six in only nine balls but he was later clean bowled by A Groome’s (3-24) very first delivery.
The writing was on the wall at 160-7 and then Payne’s two-and-a-half hour stint finally came to an end.
Lawes (15) and Hutchens (12 not out) were left chasing a lost cause and, with five overs to go, the inevitable arrived as the former was caught by J Thomas off M Ford’s (2-39) delivery.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/trade_directory/