WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 239-2 (19) beat DORCHESTER 158-9 (3) by 81 runs

DORCHESTER skipper Simon Mitchem remained proud of the way his side stuck to the task against Wimborne & Colehill, despite falling to an 81-run loss.

Wimborne’s star performer Tom Caines had a game to remember, as his side comfortably recorded their fourth win in six league outings.

Caines batted all the way through the hosts’ 50 overs to rack up an unbeaten 120 in his team's impressive total of 239-2.

He then helped restrict Dorchester to 158-9 from their allotted overs, claiming three wickets to cap off a memorable individual performance.

And defeated skipper Mitchem was keen to give credit where it was due.

He told Echosport: “We bowled well early on and fielded well but their guy who opened the batting played really well and batted through.

“He played very sensibly and scored 100, which is always going to give them a platform on a good deck.

“Maybe in the last eight or so overs we let them get away a bit but, considering the start they had, I thought we could have been chasing around 280 or 290.”

In reply, Mitchem himself made 30 in the Dorchester middle order and opener Sean Fitzgerald contributed the same total.

But the county town outfit failed to accumulate big partnerships and were unable to apply any pressure throughout the run chase.

Mitchem added: “We lost wickets at regular intervals which they didn’t do.

“But we stuck at it and I am proud of the way we stuck at it. We kept going and are a very young side, and they have some experience that we don’t.

“We are playing some good stuff at the moment so I’m sure we will soon pick up points and wins.”

Sherborne now head the way in the Premier League standings after their resounding 155-run win over Parley.

Also looking at the race for the league crown, Mitchem added: “Sherborne are the best team that we have played by far.

“They have a very rounded side with good strength in depth.

“Parley and Poole will definitely be up there but I think Sherborne will be as well. Those three will definitely be competing.”