SHILLINGSTONE 206 (7pts) lost to DORCHESTER 208-6 (20pts) by four wickets

NOT OUT skipper Simon Mitchem helped his side get back to winning ways as Dorchester battled to a four-wicket victory over Shillingstone at the Rec.

After a washout against Swanage and a loss to Martinstown in their last two fixtures, the county town side needed victory to realistically keep their title challenge looking achievable in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division.

And, although they were given a scare by a side they beat so convincingly in the reverse fixture earlier in the campaign, Mitchem’s men managed to get over the line with just six balls of their innings to spare.

“Sometimes you need to win ugly,” Mitchem, who was still at the crease at the end with 64 to his name, told Echosport.

“It wasn’t the best chase and my innings was quite scratchy but we stuck at it.

“At around four an over you are right in the game and we got over the line in the end.

“We were gutted after the Swanage washout and last week (the loss against Martinstown) we were nowhere near our standards. So it was nice to get the win, it’s a big win for us.”

With Shillingstone cruising at 128-1 at one stage, it looked like it would be a tough day in the field for Dorchester after their visitors elected to bat, after winning the toss.

But, despite 73 from opener Roy Haycock and 47 from Ashley Merritt, the county town spin pair of George Foot and Will McKay helped pull the game back in the hosts’ favour.

Foot claimed 2-44 from his 10 overs, while McKay was the pick of the attack with an impressive return of 4-41.

“Our spinners bowled really well. They (Shillingstone) were 125-1 at one point – to pull it back to 206 was really pleasing,” Mitchem added.

“George and Will bowled really well because our seamers can’t do it every week. Contributions all round make the difference.”

Their impact meant Shillingstone were eventually bowled out for 206 but Dorchester made tough work of the chase.

A score of 46 from Dan Belt at the top of the order proved a fine help before Mitchem and Quenton Miller set to work.

Miller (30) was then run out by the Dorchester captain, but Mitchem redeemed himself by remaining unbeaten at the end as a ramp shot from wicketkeeper Nick Roe saw the hosts home.

Mitchem added: “Quenton and I just tried to bat time and then I ran him out. My bad!

“But George came in and whacked a few, which was good, and then Nick got us over the line in the end with one of those horrible ramp shots, which give me nightmares!”

The result puts Dorchester 22 points behind league leaders Wimborne & Colehill in the standings at present.

Asked whether the victory still keeps his side in the hunt to challenge for the league crown, the skipper replied: “I think we will know more in a few weeks when some of the top teams have played each other.”

Dorchester will be put to the test next Saturday when they visit league big guns Poole Town – who beat them at the Rec earlier in the season – at Poole Park (1pm).