ST GEORGE’S 225-6 (18pts) beat SHILLINGSTONE 175-7 (8pts) by 50 runs

ST GEORGE’S completed their home fixtures in Dorset Sunday Division One with a comfortable 50-run victory over mid-table Shillingstone.

Exactly 20 years after they entered the Dorset League, the Saints had sealed the title for the first time thanks to an emphatic seven-wicket win at nearest challengers Cranborne last week.

Against Shillingstone, the hosts batted first and posted a total in excess of 200.

A century-stand for the fourth wicket between Colin Gough (68) and Tim Goodhew (45) set the platform before Dave Griffiths and Rich Cole provided late impetus with an unbroken partnership of 44.

Although victory for the visitors rem-ained a possibility at the halfway point of their reply, once skipper Chris Cole was bowled by Sam Goodhew for 34, the run-rate increased rapidly and the winning post was quickly out of reach.

An entertaining unbeaten half-century from veteran Ian Paulley brought up maximum batting points before the overs ran out with the North Dorset side some way short of their victory target as the champions extended their lead at the top to 40 points with only one game remaining.