SHERBORNE 199 (19pts) beat DORCHESTER 104 (6pts) by 95 runs

SIMON Mitchem has admitted he would be surprised if Sherborne did not clinch the Dorset Premier League title this season.

The Dorchester captain was speaking after his side had lost to the championship frontrunners for the second time in 2015, with their latest defeat on Saturday coming by 95 runs.

However, had it not been for Shane Snater’s 115 in the visitors’ total of 199, things may have turned out differently.

Sherborne were 8-2 early in their innings but Snater went on to score more than half of his team’s total – only two other batsmen reached double figures.

Dan Belt (1-12), Pete Horne (2-9) and Mitchem (3-5) bowled superb spells but several of Dorchester’s bowlers were expensive as Snater punished anything wayward.

Sherborne lost their last four wickets for as many runs following Mitchem’s introduction to the attack.

With the county town outfit chasing 200 to win, Will Caldwell scored just four before he was dismissed prior to tea.

Nick Roe and Mitchem both fell for three after the interval, though Belt (26) and Marcus Evans (29) put on 54 for the fourth wicket.

However, James Elliot-Square removed the two in quick succession and the Dorchester tail failed to wag.

Paul Hancock did the damage with 3-17 to leave the home side 96 runs short of victory.

“We bowled them out for 199, which considering the strength of their team was good,” said Mitchem.

“We took a few early wickets but then Shane Snater came in and batted really well.

“There was a chance to get him out when he was on 60-odd but Dan Belt dropped him on the boundary.

“It was one of those where Dan didn’t quite see the ball until it was right in front of him, if he had there’s no way he would have dropped it.

“It was just one of those unfortunate things and I don’t think we can blame that for losing the game.

“We probably bowled a few too many four balls and some of our bowlers were quite expensive.

“I should have also brought myself on to bowl a bit sooner but we were fairly happy to keep them to 199.”

He added: “A couple of our batsmen gave their wickets away cheaply and you can’t afford to do that against Sherborne.

“They are a very good side and I would be surprised if they don’t win the league now.”

In County Division Three, Dorchester Seconds won for the fourth Saturday in a row when they beat Beaminster by eight wickets.