SHERBORNE 210-9 (19pts) beat DORCHESTER 172 (7pts) by 38 runs

DORCHESTER’S dreams of an immediate return to the top flight of the Dorset League are over after a 38-run loss to Sherborne.

The home side’s success on Saturday saw them clinch the Premier Two title and promotion with one game remaining.

Now, all that Dorchester will be playing for when they go to Martinstown on the last day of the season is second place.

Martinstown beat Bere Regis by 81 runs in their penultimate game of the campaign and have to overturn a seven-point deficit against Dorchester if they want to finish as runners-up.

At one stage on Saturday it had looked like the county town outfit were going to take the race for the title right down to the wire.

A five-wicket haul for Eamonn Scott kept Sherborne to a total of 210-9 in the allotted 50 overs.

And the visitors were going along nicely in reply as captain Dan Belt (70 not out) and Simon Mitchem (40) guided them to 133-2.

But then a massive batting collapse saw Dorchester ship eight wickets for just 39 runs.

A dejected Belt said: “Our fielding wasn’t great but we bowled really well and were happy to keep them to 210.

“The outfield was getting quicker and the wicket wasn’t doing too much so we thought we had a decent chance.

“Me and Simon put on 109 and we were looking good, but then there was a big collapse, and it wasn’t great bowling that people were getting out to.

“It’s a huge disappointment because we could have won.”

On Sherborne and where Dorchester go from here, he added: “Sherborne have probably been the most consistent team in the league and they deserve it more than we do.

“It’s a learning curve for us and we can now look forward to next year.

“We’ll go to Martinstown and try to secure second place, and have an end of season drink as it has been a long season.”