KINGSTON LACY 151 (5pts) lost to WEYMOUTH 232-4 (20pts) by 81 runs

WEYMOUTH took a convincing 81-run opening-day win at Kingston Lacy in baking conditions for their County Division Two clash.

Seasiders’ captain Harry Mitchell won the toss and elected to bat on a slow pitch, but opening batsman Brian Keane (17) smashed a six with his first ball to set the tone for the visitors’ innings.

Fellow opener Paul Collins (17) provided the anchor role but John Burns (2-31) removed both men to leave Weymouth on 55-2.

Dom Webb (18) and John Wilson (14) also got starts, but were dismissed by Paul Cox (2-31) as Lacy made inroads at 90-4.

However, a sublime unbroken 144-run stand between the initially patient Simon Browne (80no) and Mitchell (53no) took the game away from the hosts, the duo accelerating to hit five sixes between them.

Lacy’s reply was stemmed by Graham Puckett (2-24) and Lloyd Beals (1-18) as Weymouth reduced the home side to 37-3.

However, when a robust 79-run response from Burns (49) and James Holton (24) was ended, Weymouth cruised to victory, taking the last seven wickets for 35 runs – Mitchell claiming 4-19.

Speaking to Echosport after the triumph, Mitchell felt taking early wickets was crucial to his side’s win.

He said: “Once we got the early wickets and got rid of their one partnership they crumbled.

“Our bowling attack is really, really dangerous. There’s every base covered and it’s really exciting.”

Commenting on his century stand with Browne, Mitchell felt good running between the wickets was pivotal in building a total in excess of five runs an over.

He said: “The pitch was terrible, a bit of a pudding, but myself and Browner put on a 100 partnership. We tried to get up to 150-200 and we then started hitting a few sixes.

“We bought about 20-30 runs just by running hard. They were tired and dead on their feet. We were puffing too but we knew if we took the runs it might be the game.

“The openers got us off to a great start and Browner only had five off his first 40-odd balls before he smashed it everywhere, and I played the back-up role.”

Weymouth next face Charlton Down in the first derby of the season at Redlands on Saturday (1.30pm).

* Weymouth Seconds 142 (11pts) lost to Royal Challengers Sports 155 by 13 runs in their opening County Division Five clash at Wey Valley School.