Saints foiled as title hopes end (From Dorset Echo)

Saints foiled as title hopes end

8:30am Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Cricket By Echo Reporter

BOURNEMOUTH 196-7 (19pts) beat ST GEORGE’S 166-8 (10pts) by 9 runs on rain reduced target ST GEORGE’S failed in their attempt to win the Dorset Sunday League Division One title when they were defeated by nine runs in their last game at Bournemouth.

With league leaders Fern-down Wayfarers’ match rained off, the county town side knew that only a 20-point maximum haul from the Chapel Gate clash would be enough to take first place.

They started off well enough with the Cole brothers, Rob and Rich, reducing the hosts to 44-3 but the middle order dug in on a slow wicket.

Russell and Patel recorded 50s as the visitors tried in vain to break through and the home side were content not to take any risks in the closing overs as the innings closed on 196-7.

Although their championship hopes were over having failed to take maximum bowling bonus points, the Saints were determined to finish the season with a victory but an accurate opening spell from Anschuman Singh put them on the back foot and at the halfway stage the score had reached only 50-4.

A heavy shower then took the players from the field and on the resumption the target had been reduced to 175 from 40 overs.

Tim Goodhew and Matt King immediately went after the bowling with the required run-rate of seven an over and despite initial success, King was bowled by the returning Singh.

The run chase saw wickets fall in quick succession until Rich Cole joined Goodhew in a quickfire partnership of 46 for the eightht wicket but eventually the overs ran out with the county town side still nine short of victory.

The defeat saw St George’s drop to third in the final table although this still represents a significant improvement on last season’s eighth-place finish.