STALBRIDGE 162 (5pts) lost to DORCHESTER 165-5 (20pts) by 5 wickets

DORCHESTER captain Simon Mitchem hailed the efforts of team-mate Dan Morris for helping him see the visitors to victory against Stalbridge on Saturday.

Mitchem and Morris finished unbeaten on 87 and 31 respectively as the hosts overcame a disastrous start in reply to the visitors’ 162 all out to win by five wickets.

The result gave Dorchester back-to-back triumphs for the first time this season and it was their fourth success overall.

Also, they are now even closer to bridging the gap between them and third bottom Swanage at the foot of the Dorset Premier League table.

The county town side are 11, 12 and 14 points behind the Swans, Stalbridge and Martinstown respectively.

Mitchem lost the toss at Dorchester Rec on Saturday but an excellent bowling and fielding display by the team kept Stalbridge to a very gettable total.

Dan Belt and James Dunham claimed two wickets apiece and Mitchem himself took three, while George Foot, Pete Horne and Sean Fitzgerald all got in on the act with one each.

“I lost the toss but I would have bowled first anyway to see what the pitch was like,” admitted Mitchem.

“Dan and James both bowled good opening spells and we were really tight in the field.

“Everyone chipped in with the ball and we should have had them out for 130 but let them get away a bit.”

The hosts’ response began woefully with Fitzgerald, Pete Phillips and Belt departing before the score had reached double figures.

Then 8-3 turned into 20-4 when Marcus Evans got an unplayable delivery that would have got out most batsmen.

However, the pitch seemed to get better from then on and Mitchem and wicketkeeper Nick Roe steadied the ship.

Roe contributed a vital 20 runs to the total as Mitchem scored prolifically at the other end.

And when Roe was trapped leg before, Morris came to the crease to support his skipper, who ended 13 short of a century.

“Dan Morris came out and batted superbly in what could have been a tight situation,” added Mitchem. “What he did was great and his was a really good knock given the circumstances.

“We dug in and ground out the win, and that’s two on the bounce now.”