CRANBORNE 168-4 (19pts) beat WEYMOUTH 167-9 (5pts) by six wickets

WEYMOUTH suffered their first defeat of the County Division Two season as Cranborne cruised to a six-wicket victory at the Mick Loader Rec.

The Seasiders won the toss, electing to bat, but lost Tony Quayle (0) on the fifth ball of the innings after he was caught by David Dawkins off the bowling of David Coy (2-27).

John Wilson made a good start in getting to 20, but was bowled by Marc Harris (2-31) as Weymouth reached 30-2.

Dom Webb (57) then struck his first half-century of the season but wickets fell around him as the visitors went from 80-2 to 110-5.

Webb found an ally in Andy Jeffreys (29) but the Weymouth tail failed to wag and Cranborne were able to restrict their opponents to 167-9 from 45 overs.

In reply, the Cranes were aggressive in chasing 168 as Scott Maidment cut loose, Lloyd Beals (0-55) taking punishment from seven overs, before Graham Puckett (1-36) removed opener Charlie Arnold to leave the hosts on 49-1.

Captain Harry Mitchell (1-25) then removed Dawkins (4) before Maidment’s innings of 50 ended after 42 balls when Andy Anderson (2-22) broke through.

At that stage, Weymouth had Cranborne at 80-3, but Harris delivered a crushing knock of 67 from 37 balls, including 11 fours and two sixes, to see his side home with over 20 overs remaining.

Speaking to Echosport, Mitchell said the defeat had come as a “reality check” to his side.

He said: “We didn’t bowl at our best, which was disappointing after last week.

“I think we got a reality check, the intensity wasn’t as it has been in the first two games – we weren’t at the races. We didn’t play bad, they were just better.

“Their openers went really hard at the ball and that was the difference. If we got one of them out earlier it would have been a different game.

“That was what let us down, at crucial parts of the game not turning it up.”

But Mitchell praised Webb and Jeffreys for their efforts with the bat.

He said: “It was superb from (Webb) again, he’s showing what he can do. Coming in at the sixth ball of the innings and lasting until the 36th over showed character, good fitness levels and composure.

“Andy as well, he played a lovely little knock at the end. Without his runs the others around him wouldn’t have done as well.”

Weymouth host Stalbridge Seconds at Redlands on Saturday (1.30pm).

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