Relegated Weymouth bag final-day victory (From Dorset Echo)

Relegated Weymouth bag final-day victory

8:31am Thursday 6th September 2012 in Cricket

WEYMOUTH SECONDS 199-7 (20pts) beat BEAMINSTER 183 (11pts) by 16 runs

DESPITE being a man down, Weymouth Seconds ended a miserable campaign on a high with victory in their final outing of the summer.

The 10-man Seasiders were indebted to a fine batting display from Andy Jarvis (64 not out) as they closed on 199-7 before Graham Puckett (3-48) and Ryan Sers (4032) starred with the leather to help dismiss Beaminster for 183 in a close-run affair.

And although their relegation was confirmed some weeks ago, Weymouth captain Michael Pearce, who plundered 39 runs himself, was delighted to end 2012 on a positive note.

He said: “It was a very pleasing way to finish a difficult summer. The team has improved in the second half of the season and the younger batters have started to produce the runs we know they are capable of.

“This game saw some good batting by Andy Jarvis to steer us from some trouble at 6-2 on a wet pitch. He used all his experience and the rest of the team batted around him for us to reach 199. Harry Tucker also batted well for his 30.

“In the field, despite having only 10 men due to a Friday withdrawal, the bowling and fielding was superb, in particular Ryan Sers with his four wickets.

“It was good to finish with a win in a very enjoyable game of cricket.”

Batting first, the visitors got off to a sticky start as the first two wickets went for only six runs.

However, Jarvis and Tucker got the Seasiders rolling until the latter was bowled by Ross Baker (2-41) with the score on 63.

Wickets then fell at regular intervals until captain Pearce joined Jarvis in a 60-run partnership.

The innings ended soon after the skipper’s dismissal with Simon Jones (2-32) leading the figures for Beaminster.

Needing only five points to secure their Dorset League Division Two status, the hosts made a bright opening in reply through Nick David (62) and Colin Lloyd (17).

However, of the remaining batsmen, only Baker (16) and Richard Runyard (26) reached double figures.

And the West Dorset outfit were all out in the penultimate over, having missed out on victory by 17 runs.