DORCHESTER 174 (5pts) lost to WIMBORNE & COLEHILL 175-5 (20pts) by five wickets

DORCHESTER skipper Simon Mitchem admitted his side “came up short with the bat” as they suffered a five-wicket defeat to Wimborne at the Leaze.

The reverse is Dorchester’s third on the bounce in the Dorset Funeral Plan Premier Division and the third game in a row they have fallen to sides above them in the league pile.

Reflecting on the contest, Mitchem, who returned to the side after missing out against Sherborne the previous week, told Echosport: “At the time I thought with 170 we were in the game but it was probably a 210 pitch, we were probably 35 or 40 runs short.

“It’s frustrating that we came up short with the bat, a lot of our guys got themselves out. There weren’t a lot of good balls that got our batsmen out.

“We were just crying out for someone to go on and make 40 or 50.

“It’s a bit frustrating that someone else didn’t go in the middle order and kick on, that was the difference.”

Wimborne’s Frank Turrill was the star of the show for the league leaders.

Picking up 3-22 to help restrict Dorchester to 174 all out, he then guided the home side over the line with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 54 after coming in at seven with his side 89-5 at the time.

Positive performances from Dorchester came as James Dunham scored 40 with the bat to help his side post a total before he fell to Turrill.

Mitchem himself took 3-25 in the second innings and Pete Horne recorded 2-22.

The county town skipper added: “We bowled quite well and fielded well, which was good. We just needed those one or two more wickets.

“It’s always disappointing to lose, especially when we were right in the game at one point. At drinks we were right in it but they got a partnership that did for us then. We needed a couple of quick wickets at that point which we didn’t get.

“They had a partnership at that crucial time and we didn’t.”

The result means Dorchester drop to fifth in the league behind Broadstone, who racked up a mammoth 314-1 against Martinstown at the Delph. They then skittled the visitors out for 142 in reply to secure maximum points.

Wimborne & Colehill still lead the charge at the top of the division by six points over Poole Town, who hammered Parley by 158 runs.

Pictures by Luke Westacott