Dorchester THIRDS 263-8 (20pts) beat Abbotsbury 98 (5pts) on a rain reduced target

TEENAGE trio Dan Morris, Luke Voss and Sam Roles led the way as Dorchester Thirds earned a vital victory over fellow high-fliers Abbotsbury at Charlton Down.

The win also saw the county town outfit climb to the Dorset League Division Five North & West summit, replacing Weymouth Longshots as they were without a fixture.

The hosts set an imposing 263-8 from their full allocation of 45 overs, with 14-year-old Morris (51) and 16-year-olds Voss (72) and Roles (68) all hitting half-centuries.

Morris and Voss put on 63 for the second wicket in only 12 overs. The former produced a fine range of shots, pulling and driving to most parts of the ground and bringing up his 50 with a trademark drive through mid-off before James Pretty struck to have the youngster caught by G Pitman.

But it was the partnership of 130 between Voss and Roles that took the game away from Abbotsbury.

Voss anchored the innings, playing patiently and rotating the strike in his two-and-a-quarter-hour stay at the crease, leaving the stylish Roles to drive and pull 10 boundaries before being caught by Jewell off Paterson with the score on 197-3.

Voss was eventually out in the last over, well caught by Steve Budd following Pretty’s delivery.

The Abbotsbury innings never really got going due to incoming rain, much to the frustration of players, umpires and spectators.

Various targets were set and then revised to finally a 27-over goal of 158.

Fifteen-year-old debutant fast bowler Jake Pike (1-29) struck in his third over to remove visiting skipper Nick Wardlaw (1) and then the impressive 14-year-old Matt Stevens (2-7) claimed two victims, bowling Pretty (2) with a beautiful ball that nipped back off the seam and Frank Pitman (5) as he mistimed a drive straight to Pete Tucker at mid-off to leave the score on 40-3.

Chas Duerdoth (24) struck a few blows to the boundary before Jae Miller caught him out while searching for another off the delivery of Roles.

Morris (1-16) eventually bowled the evergreen Budd for a patient but classy 36 and Abbotsbury were in danger at 78-5.

But any hopes the away side harboured were soon dashed as another debutant, 14-year-old Caspar Bailey, snared 3-9 from only four overs while Roles (3-33) bagged two more wickets to end Abbotsbury’s chase.

Captain Tucker said: “The weather played havoc with the game but with great patience a result was gained.

“Once again it was extremely pleasing to see some great batting and bowling performances from the young lads.

“Successive 50s from Dan and Sam was impressive but Luke’s performance, batting for 44 overs, was the most pleasing as he showed good concentration.

“Two more bowling debutants, Jake and Caspar, enjoyed success and both look good prospects as they make the step up to senior cricket.”