PARLEY SECONDS 242-3 (17pts) beat WEYMOUTH SECONDS 180-4 (6pts) by 62 runs

DAVE Blackman and Andy Jarvis both scored half-centuries in a stubborn rearguard action against Parley Seconds at Redlands in Dorset League Division Three.

The Weymouth Seconds’ duo dug in superbly after a slow start to their reply but in the end it was the visitors that came out on top by 62 runs.

On winning the toss, Parley chose to bat and notched up a fine total of 242-3 in their allotted overs, taking advantage of some dropped catches in the field as well as some wayward bowling.

James Herringshaw (81) and Tom Barber (65) put on 174 for the first wicket while veteran seamer Graham Puckett was the steadiest of the home attack, conceding just 41 from his 12 overs.

After tea, Weymouth lost opener Kieron Womble (16) with only 21 on the board and by the halfway mark the required run-rate was already up to nearly eight per over.

Pete Gordon (24) then departed before wicketkeeper Blackman (62) and skipper Jarvis (56 not out) put on 87 for the third wicket to ensure their side picked up the maximum batting points, despite falling a long way short of their target.

Jarvis said: “I thought any score over 200 would be very good on what was a very slow wicket, but obviously we didn’t help ourselves with some sloppy fielding and inaccurate bowling.

“We were also missing a few players again, so I take some comfort from picking up maximum batting points, but we must work on our bowling and fielding if we are going to climb away from the bottom of the league.”