WEYMOUTH SECONDS 152-9 (6pts) lost to WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 156-5 (19pts) by five wickets

MATT Batchelor produced an unbeaten half-century for Weymouth Seconds but it still was not enough to end their barren start in Dorset League Division Two.

The winless Seasiders have struggled with the bat since the start of the campaign and at 76-6 against Wimborne & Colehill Seconds the writing looked on the wall again.

However, teenager Batchelor then dug in and struck 54 not out to lead the hosts to 152-9 and with the Redlands track still relatively damp following the recent wet weather, hopes were high they could skittle their opponents for much less.

Unfortunately though, a fifth-wicket stand of 102 put those best laid plans to bed as Wimborne comfortably reached their target with 12 overs and five wickets to spare.

Weymouth skipper Michael Pearce said: “It was another defeat but there were some green shoots of recovery in our batting with 17-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman Matt Batchelor producing a great knock to save our innings.

“However, typically, we then saved our worst bowling performance of the season so far for a game where 152 should have been enough on a tough, damp wicket.”

Harry Tucker (2) fell early for Weymouth before Michael Pearce (13) and Ben Doidge (15) steadied the ship with a second-wicket stand of 32.

The pair looked well set but when three wickets fell in a matter of a couple of minutes the hosts suddenly found themselves under enormous pressure on 36-4.

Dave Pearce (23) and Marc Bog-gust (16) then put on 39 but two more quick breakthroughs left the tail exposed as Stuart Nye (4-47) and Tom Butcher (4-29) continued to torment with the ball.

At 76-6, it appeared a three-figure total might prove a tough proposition but Batchelor showed tremendous character to lift his side out of the mire.

The middle-order batsman produced some wonderful strokes and alongside the experienced head of Graham Puckett (18) helped string together a fine partnership of 61.

Butcher then grabbed another clutch of wickets in the closing stages but at tea Weymouth felt confident they were still very much in the game.

Tim Guyett (2-44) and Puckett (3-36) raised hopes even further by reducing Wimborne to 42-4 in reply but Ash Collison (55) and K Hall (42 not out) had very different ideas as they turned the tables with a match-winning stand of 102.

Puckett eventually forced Collison to edge through to Batchelor, who took a total of two catches behind the stumps, but it was too little, too late as the visitors cruised home with relative ease.

Despite the defeat, Weymouth have moved off the foot of the table but only due to Beaminster’s home game against Shillingstone having fallen to the weather.